Aggravation
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:18 am
Aggravation
In homeopathy, an Aggravation (similar aggravation) is a worsening of
symptoms after the administration of a remedy
" a noticeable intensification of the disease symptoms previously observed"
We use provings to determine what symptoms a substance will produce in a
healthy person.
When a person takes a remedy and then has symptoms he DID NOT have before -
these are symptoms that are produced by the remedy - this is called a
"proving" also.
Acute Illness/Treatment - In treating acute illness or first aid, it is
usually the result of an inappropriate potency or too frequent repetition
of the remedy.
Chronic Illness/Treatment - The typical view by most homeopaths is that
"aggravation is sometimes something that a homeopath wants to see (in
treating chronic illness)"
Here are 2 URLS who show that view:
http://www.homeoint.org/books4/close/chapter07.htm
http://www.t-gone.com/tinnitus-cure/hom ... _frame.asp
It has been taught for a long time that a homeopath wants to see an
aggravation at the beginning of cure...........that is not true. That is
4th edition of Organon thinking and Hahnemann went on to write 5th & 6th
edition showing his development in his ideas - we don't need or want
aggravations.
WE DO NOT WANT to see an aggravation at the beginning of treatment or
during treatment - we do sometimes see an aggravation toward the end of
cure when using remedies in water and that is a sign to stop the remedy.
It usually means too high a potency and too much dose.
We want a gentle cure.
http://www.homeoint.org/books/hahorgan/organ001.htm#P2
Aphorism 2 from the Organon
"The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of
the health, or removal and annihilation of the disease in its whole extent,
in the shortest, most reliable, and most harmless way, on easily
comprehensible principles."
**************
http://www.homeopathysnc.org/luc_de_sch ... opathy.htm
"Of course those homeopaths who adhere to the 4th edition of the Organon do
not care that their patients go through a similar aggravation of their
symptoms (existing symptoms aggravate), in fact they welcome it as it tells
them that they have chosen the right remedy."
1. ALWAYS (for acute as well as Chronic diseases) put the remedy
into water!
2. The dose (how much needs to be given) is just as much part of
the rightfully selected remedy as the name of the remedy.
3. Do not accept similar aggravations (an aggravation of your
existing symptoms). The watery solutions allow the homeopath to minimize
and even avoid such similar aggravation.
4. The smallness of the dose is a very much neglected part in
homeopathic circles. Many aggravations are due to giving a too large dose
rather than a too high potency. Always rather start with a cautious small
dose!
5. We will discuss potencies in the next lesson and will then take
the opportunity to accurately describe HOW these watery solutions should be
taken in acute and chronic diseases. The guidelines by Hahnemann are found
to be very exact and those who want to impose their own inventions on the
patient should try it first on themselves and their loved ones!
*************
http://www.homeopathysnc.org/luc_de_sch ... milars.htm
In other words we create a similar and stronger disease than what the
patient present. Does this mean we must make the patient sicker before he
gets better? This is an unfortunate thinking of many patients and present
homeopaths. As you will learn further, this aggravation of your existing
symptoms (called similar aggravation) can be totally avoided by selecting
the right potency, frequency of repetition and dose (see further lectures).
Your homeopath must be familiar with the 5th and 6th edition of the Organon
and at this point at least 90% of homeopaths in the world are not!
******
http://www.hpathy.com/interviews/schepp ... sation.asp
Indeed when we talk about a life threathening situation then indeed we
repeat even every 15 minutes if need be; but, in Aphorism 157 it says that
a homeopathic aggravation can be expected within the hour of the first
dose. And if that happens--Aphorism 158--there is a high probability that
the disease will be cured by this first dose. So you can imagine, that if
the patient would repeat during the aggravation time, let’s say every 15
minutes in the first hour when the similar aggravation occurs, the similar
aggravation will be more outspoken, confusing the patient and homeopath alike!
" I have seen cases where three DROPS of the medicine was too much causing
a similar aggravation, one drop did not do anything, but two drops was the
required dose"
"Keep in mind that 90% of the world still practices according to the 4th
edition dry dose method.
1. The 4th edition prescriber WANTS a similar aggravation, an aggravation
of the patient's symptoms, since it tells him he has the right remedy
(which does not mean OUR wanted simillimum, which is the right remedy,
right dose and right potency). The 5th and 6th edition prescriber wants to
minimize and even totally avoid this similar aggravation! You can only
imagine what that does to the patient. Let's say you have an eczema case
responding to Mezereum: the picture of such eczema is an extreme violent
itching at night, "as if thousands ants crawling under the skin." The child
is usually in a restraint so as not to scratch himself but usually the
patient presents with a face that is one bloody mess, infecting
easily...Imagine you aggravate such a child (4th edition): imagine the
agony this child and the parents alike! Does the homeopath think he can
keep this patient after the first aggravating dose? Too many patients have
been lost forever to homeopathy. Imagine, as I also had, the violent ADHD
child that wants to kill his father and sister so he can marry his mother.
You aggravate him and he will kill them!"
4. "In case of similar aggravation, the advanced prescriber easily adjusts
the second dose which can already be given on the third day, not three
weeks later as the 4th edition prescriber does. He has many possibilities
adjusting the dose (the amount, succussions or potency, 2nd cup, giving
drops from the bottle and cup while the only remedy the 4th edition
prescriber has is either cancelling the remedy or trying to give a lower
potency to slow down the aggravation. Either way is losing time again which
is a concern for the patient and the possibility of losing him."
*********
http://www.wholehealthnow.com/books/simillimum.html
Click on "From the Book "
"As a classical homeopath, I have learned great respect for these
principles, because over the years I also have given wrong remedies and
caused negative effects, suppressed symptoms with partial simillimums,
disrupted the Vital Force with untimely repetition, and aggravated to the
point that antidoting was necessary."
********
http://www.minimum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=683
excerpt from this thread where Dr. Luc responds.........
"You have to distinguish of course between similar and dissimilar
aggravations. For instance similar aggravations (aggravation of existing
symptoms) is even desired by the 4th edition Organon prescriber and
rejected by the 5th and 6th edition prescriber.
In reality the good homeopath, using the advanced methods should avoid at
all cost similar aggravations. Imagine as I do, dealing with very violent
children, who want to kill their father to marry their mother (Freud would
have been in his element) and you aggravate such person on purpose...He
will kill his father!
And no one who suffers from mental. emotional or physical disease wants an
aggravation
Every similar aggravation SLOWS DOWN the cure as one needs to WAIT and
watch (4th edition).
The other aggravation, DISSIMILAR aggravation, is even worse as now a wrong
remedy is given to the patient and if continued can now create a NEW
medicinal disease, added to the natural disease! Does it happen often? You
bet. I am amazed how worldwide homeopaths don't even recognize an
aggravation. I discuss these issues extensively in my books, Hahnemann
Revisited and even more in Achieving the Simillimum. ......Tthese horrible
experiences lead people to abandoning homeopathy forever. Even the right
remedy (and I read that famous homeopaths claim just the remedy is
important, not how much is given or what potency) in the wrong dose and/or
potency can do great harm.
Again I need to refer the reader to Aphorims 275 and 276. Are these
"famous" homeopaths blind in the practice? And they teach this to others?
So indeed Homeopathy to quote Kent in the hands of the unexperienced
homeopath is like falling into a pit full of vipers. The power of
homeopathy is great, but to bring out its great healing nature rather than
a destructive side, its ground principles must be followed to the T and
good management is essential!
Warm regards
Dr luc
and in a response further down.........
"aggravations can lead to adding medicinal symptoms to the original natural
disease of the patient, especially a dissimilar aggravation. So in that
case you can call this side effects of the homeopathic remedy. Obviuously
it is not in the same meaning than allopathic meds. ALL allopathic meds
have numerous side efects even if they administered correctly. This is NOT
the case in homeopathy: skillful administrstion by a competent practitioner
does not lead to "side effects."
Side effects are only caused by incompetency in prescribing and management "
Dr luc
Organon aphorisms at the end of this email
*************
http://drluc.blogspot.com/2007/04/lectu ... cy-of.html
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Homeopathy: The Potency of the Remedy (How Strong?) and the Repetition of
the Dose (How Often?)
excerpt
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.
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!
Posted by Dr. Luc De Schepper at 8:47 AM
***********
http://www.wholehealthnow.com/homeopath ... on-04.html
excerpts from.......................
A Comparison of the C and LM Potency 5th and 6th Organon Written by: David
Little
"This healing process ideally takes place with no aggravations, no crisis,
and no overly noticeable reactions other than the rapid restoration of
health and vitality (148). That is the goal of the Similia Minimus of the
6th Organon.
High potency centesimals made on machines with many dilutions with strong
succussions produce aggravations at the start of treatment that limit the
curative secondary effect of the vital force.
In the LM method the gentle primary effect of the remedy replaces the
natural disease without aggravation at the start of treatment and produces
a long enduring gentle curative effect in the life force that removes the
remedy disease from without and returns to full and health vitality within.
With the LM potency there is no need for a crisis-like aggravation to cure
natural diseases. The proper LM simillimum in the minimal dose produces
rapid transformations to the state of health and the restoration of
vitality without any noticeable excessive reactions."
"The correct dose of the LM potency in medicinal solution produces a
non-aggressive primary action, no aggravations, and a long enduring gentle
curative effect by the life principle."
"Hahnemann changed his opinion about the need for aggravation when he
discovered the LM potency and the split-dose of the medicinal solution in
the 1840s."
"By the publication of the 6th Organon Hahnemann no longer believed it was
necessary to compel the vital force to cure through aggravations. There are
no aggravations with the LM potency if the remedy is slowed down as the
patient improves and stopped at the correct time."
"The LMs tend to aggravate at the end of treatment when the pathology is
healed and vitality restored. This is a sign that the remedy is no longer
needed. If the remedy is slowed down as the patient improves, there will be
no aggravation at the end of treatment."
"The C potencies have a rapid onset and reach aggravation at the beginning
of treatment when the patient is the most ill and the weakest. This is not
the best situation. This is another reason why the LMs are suitable for
many inherited and acquired chronic diseases and miasms."
***********
http://www.simillimum.com/education/hom ... dex.php#10
"10. I have heard that Homoeopathic remedies can make the patient feel
worse before they feel better. Homoeopaths call this an aggravation. What
is an aggravation?
Return to Homoeo FAQ | Top of Page
David Little: Sometimes a homoeopathic remedy will cause an increase in the
symptoms of the disease state for a short period. Samuel Hahnemann
developed techniques that reduce the phenomena of aggravation completely or
at least to a minimum. A homoeopathic aggravation is a sign that the
correct remedy has been given and the remedy is acting very deeply on the
disease state. If the dose and potency of the remedy has been given
properly, this aggravation will pass off quickly, and be followed by
noticeable improvement. If the aggravation is overly uncomfortable and
prolonged, it is a sign that the patient is overmedicated. This situation
should be reported to the homoeopath immediately so corrective measures can
be applied when necessary. Normally, aggravations are not dangerous unless
the person administering the medicine is not properly trained. Some
practitioners think that they must aggravate the symptoms to cure the
patient. They believe in the "no pain - no gain" philosophy. This is a sign
that this person has not learned all the checks and balances that make
Homoeopathy a gentle, safe and effective medical system. At times a
homoeopathic remedy may bring out old latent disease states in the process
of treatment. This is a natural healing crisis. Although such conditions
may be uncomfortable for a short period, they are immediately followed by
an increase in the sense of well-being and vitality. This condition should
also be reported to the homoeopath so that they can manage the situation in
the proper manner. If the classical teachings of Homoeopathy are well
understood such manifestations are easily controlled and lead to better
states of health."
**********
http://www.simillimum.com/education/lit ... ilosophy/t
md/article.php
excerpts
"Kent was a grand proponent of this tradition as he practiced in accordance
with the methods of the 4th Organon and the first edition of The Chronic
Disease.s This is the methodology practiced by most homoeopaths today. Over
the next fifteen years, however, Homoeopathy went through a tremendous
transformation as Hahnemann sought to perfect his system. During these
years he produced four new editions of the Chronic Diseases (1830, 1835,
1837, 1839) and the 5th (1833) and 6th (1842) editions of The Organon were
written. Unfortunately, modern homoeopaths have yet to realize that the
size of the dose and the nature of its delivery system is intimately
related to the phenomena of aggravation."
"He echoed this experience in the 6th Organon of the Healing arts. Vide
aphorism 275.
"For this reason, a medicine, even though it may be homoeopathically
suited to the case of disease, does harm in every dose that is too large,
and in strong doses it does more harm the greater its homoeopathicity and
the higher the potency selected, and it does much more injury than any
equally large dose of a medicine that is unhomoeopathic and in no respect
adapted to the morbid state (allopathic)".
The closer the simillimum and the more serious the case, the more the size
of the dose becomes critical. This conclusion was the outcome of many
disturbed nights in which the Hofrath contemplated how to overcome the
side-effects of rapidly developing Homoeopathy and perfect the potency and
the dose factors. Hahnemann openly shared with his student the problems
that he caused when he gave too many dry pills of his new anti-miasmic
remedies. Vide The Chronic Diseases in 1828.
"I have myself experienced this accident, which is very obstructive to
cure and cannot be avoided too carefully. Still ignorant of the strength of
its medicinal power, I gave Sepia in too large a dose. This trouble was
still more manifest when I gave Lycopodium and Silica potentized to the
one-billionth degree, giving four to six pellets, though only as large as
poppy seeds. Discite moniti!"*
*Latin, This is a warning, 'Don't do this!'. Many of those new to
homoeopathy do not understand why traditional homoeopaths become so
conservative with their remedies. It is the fruit of the sleepless nights
when we burned the midnight oil trying to find out what we did wrong and
how to put it right. We wish to help the neophytes avoid the mistakes we
have made in the past.
For this reason he offers a warning in the 5th and 6th Organon and The
Chronic Diseases that the size of the dose must be controlled when using
high potency homoeopathic remedies. Most modern homoeopaths pay little
attention to the preparation of remedial dose and do not take the size of
the dose into account when adjusting the dose to suit the sensitivity of
the individual constitution and temperament. This is a great mistake and
has led to the misconception that homoeopathic remedies cannot cure unless
they first aggravate the disease.
Even James Kent pointed out that the best reaction is the speedy recovery
of the health. Aggravations of any kind are to be avoided as much as
possible. All aggravations must be studied closely to see if they are
similar, dissimilar, accessory symptoms, or a natural healing crisis. This
is the way the homoeopath analyzes the symptom phenomena to see if the
remedy was correct but the dose incorrect, whether the remedy was
incorrect, if the remedy was a partial simillimum, or if the symptoms are
following Hahnemann's direction of cure (Hering's laws). "
http://www.minimum.com/interviews/drlucpt2cml.htm
It is Kent who steered all the next generations of homeopaths on the wrong
path, as he never bothered to use the 5th edition split method (which he
could have-1833!) and with his belief that the "dose (or amount of pellets)
was of no importance". This goes into the face of everything Hahnemann said
and what every observing practitioner has seen. Although in his Lesser
Writings , Kent stated that "no similar aggravation" is what we need to
strive for, he was known to have caused countless severe aggravations.
Unfortunately, even well known homeopaths today, think that they need to
cause a "similar aggravation" in order to know they applied the simillimum,
something Hahnemann had removed from his teachings in the 6th edition of
the Organon (A161). Kent and therefore most homeopaths under his influence,
never even applied watery doses and never dared to repeat a dose "while the
patient was improving, A246." Regarding the "myth" that Hahnemann was
suffering from senility in his later years, it is a cheap excuse for those
who claim so to abandon Hahnemann's teachings and apply their own
frivolities. One only has to study the microfiches of his Paris years and
read statements from those that were present in those years (Dr Croserio,
read Lesser Writings of von Boenninghausen) to observe that until the last
days of his life he remained a staunch intellectual, industrious 'till the
end to provide us with his last legacy, the LM potency. For more about
this split method and Hahnemann’s later years, I refer the reader to my
book, " Achieving and Maintaining the Simillimum."
***********
http://www.otherhealth.com/archive/inde ... -3151.html
his postings on the LMs - what kind of aggravation can be expected? how
treatment is an aggravation likely? I would appreciate any info on this.
The best treatment is one with absolutely no aggravation. We are not
seeking aggravations in the beginning, middle or end of treatment.
Nevertheless. the LM potency has a tendency to cause a slight aggravation
at toward the end of treatment as a sign that the patient is nearly
complete cure. By this time, the patient symptoms are usually almost if not
all gone and their vitality is complete restored. In may experience it is
not usually an aggravation former particular symptoms, although this can
happen. It usually the aggravation of the general symptoms or a feeling of
slight malaise where the patient feels as if some symptoms are going to
come on. Hahnemann discusses this situation and it case management
procedures in aphorisms 280 and 281 of the 6th Organon. The way to see if
this is the aggravation late in the treatment is a relapse or a sign the
cure is approaching is to wait and watch for a few days. This type of
aggravation passes of very quickly and is follow by a state of feeling
totally well. If it is a relapse the patient will continue to decline.
The aggravation of the patient at the end of the treatment is a slight that
the cure is almost attained or is complete. When one stops the medicine it
should wear off quickly. If the patient improves when the medicine is
stopped but later begins to show symptoms this is a sign that they still
need a little more medicine but the intervals of repetition should be slow
down. This on again off again method is continued until there are no
relapses showing the patient needs no more medicine.
There is a great difference between the aggravation seen at the start of
treatment with the C potency and the aggravation at the end of treatment
cause by the LM potency. An aggravation at the start of treatment is
experienced when the patient is feeling ill, the vital force is deranged
and the vitality is compromised. If there is organic pathology present a
strong aggravation can be potentially dangerous and drain too much precious
vitality. The LM aggravation near or at the end of treatment takes place
after the pathology is removed and the vitality is restored. This does no
pose any danger to the patient. It is simple the appearance of a few
remedial symptoms in areas where the patient was ill.
When you use the C potency in medicinal solution it modifies the tendency
of the remedy to aggravate at the start of treatment. Nevertheless, the C
potency still has this tendency to aggravate earlier even with a control
small dose. This may be what makes the Cs so effective in crisis, acute
diseases and the during the primary symptoms of the chronic miasms. The C
potencies are also quite effective in chronic diseases that start with a
crisis and then progress fairly quickly into functional states and the
first states of pathology. For more on this read A Comparison of the C and
LM Potency on may website.
Sincerely, David Little
******
http://www.homeoint.org/books/hahorgan/ ... 0.htm#P275
§ 275
The suitableness of a medicine for any given case of disease does not
depend on its accurate homoeopathic selection alone, but likewise on the
proper size, or rather smallness, of the dose. If we give too strong a dose
of a medicine which may have been even quite homoeopathically chosen for
the morbid state before us, it must, notwithstanding the inherent
beneficial character of its nature, prove injurious by its mere magnitude,
and by the unnecessary, too strong impression which, by virtue of its
homoeopathic similarity of action, it makes upon the vital force which it
attacks and, through the vital force, upon those parts of the organism
which are the most sensitive, and are already most affected by the natural
disease.
§ 276 Fifth Edition
For this reason, a medicine, even though it may be homoeopathically suited
to the case of disease, 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 homoeopathicity and the higher the potency selected,
and it does much more injury than any equally large dose of a medicine that
is unhomoeopathic, and in no respect adapted (allopathic) to the morbid
state; for in the former case the so-called homoeopathic aggravation
(§§157-160) - that is to say, the very analogous medicinal disease produced
by the vital force stirred up by the excessively large dose of medicine, in
the parts of the organism that are most suffering and most irritated by the
original disease - which medicinal disease, had it been of appropriate
intensity, would have gently effected a cure - rises to an injurious
height;2 the patient, to be sure, no longer suffers from the original
disease, for that has been homoeopathically eradicated, but he suffers all
the more from the excessive medicinal disease and from useless exhaustion
of his strength.
1 The praise bestowed of late years by some few homoeopathists on the
larger doses is owing to this, either that they chose low dynamizations of
the medicines to be administered, as I myself used to do twenty years ago,
from not knowing any better, or that the medicines selected were not
perfectly homoeopathic.
AND
http://www.homeoint.org/books/hahorgan/ ... htm#P157E6
§ 157 Sixth Edition
But though it is certain that a homoeopathically selected remedy does, by
reason of its appropriateness and the minuteness of the dose, gently remove
and annihilate the acute disease analogous to it, without manifesting its
other unhomoeopathic symptoms, that is to say, without the production of
new, serious disturbances, yet it usually, immediately after ingestion -
for the first hour, or for a few hours - causes a kind of slight
aggravation when the dose has not been sufficiently small and (where the
dose has been somewhat too large, however, for a considerable number of
hours), which has so much resemblance to the original disease that it seems
to the patient to be an aggravation of his own disease. But it is, in
reality, nothing more than an extremely similar medicinal disease, somewhat
exceeding in strength the original affection.
§ 158
This slight homoeopathic aggravation during the first hours - a very good
prognostic that the acute disease will most probably yield to the first
dose - is quite as it ought to be, as the medicinal disease must naturally
be somewhat stronger than the malady to be cured if it is to overpower and
extinguish the latter, just as a natural disease can remove and annihilate
another one similar to it only when it is stronger than the latter (§§ 43 -
48).
§ 159 Sixth Edition
The smaller the dose of the homoeopathic remedy is in the treatment of
acute diseases so much the slighter and shorter is the apparent increase of
the disease during the first hours.
§ 160
But as the dose of a homoeopathic remedy can scarcely ever be made so small
that it shall not be able to relieve, overpower, indeed completely cure and
annihilate the uncomplicated natural disease of not long standing that is
analogous to it (§ 249, note), we can understand why a does of an
appropriate homoeopathic medicine, not the very smallest possible, does
always, during the first hour after its ingestion, produce a perceptible
homoeopathic aggravation of this kind.1
1 This exaltation of the medicinal symptoms over those disease symptoms
analogous to them, which looks like an aggravation, has been observed by
other physicians also, when by accident they employed a homoeopathic
remedy. When a patient suffering from itch complains of an increase of the
eruption after sulphur, his physician who knows not the cause of this,
consoles him with the assurance that the itch must first come out properly
before it can be cured; he knows not, however, that this is a sulphur
eruption, that assumes the appearance of an increase of the itch.
The facial eruption which the viola tricolor cured was aggravated by it at
the commencement of its action, Leroy tells us (Heilk, fur Mutter, p.406),
but he knew not that the apparent aggravation was owing to the somewhat too
large dose of the remedy, which in this instance was to a certain extent
homoeopathic. Lysons says (Med. Transact., vol ii, London, 1772), The bark
of the elm cures most certainly those skin diseases which it increases at
the beginning of its action. Had he not given the bark in the monstrous
doses usual in the allopathic system, but in the quite small doses
requisite when the medicine shows similarity of symptoms, that is to say,
when it is used homoeopathically, he would have effected a cure without, or
almost without, seeing this apparent increase of the disease (homoeopathic
aggravation).
§ 161 Sixth Edition
When I here limit the so-called homoeopathic aggravation, or rather the
primary action of the homoeopathic medicine that seems to increase somewhat
the symptoms of the original disease, to the first or few hours, this is
certainly true with respect to diseases of a more acute character and of
recent origin, but where medicines of long action have to combat a malady
of, considerable or of very long standing, where no such apparent increase
of the original disease ought to appear during treatment and it does not so
appear if the accurately chosen medicine was given in proper small,
gradually higher doses, each somewhat modified with renewed dynamization (§
247). Such increase of the original symptoms of a chronic disease can
appear only at the end of treatment when the cure is almost or quite finished.
Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath
http://www.wellwithin1.com/homeo.htm
In homeopathy, an Aggravation (similar aggravation) is a worsening of
symptoms after the administration of a remedy
" a noticeable intensification of the disease symptoms previously observed"
We use provings to determine what symptoms a substance will produce in a
healthy person.
When a person takes a remedy and then has symptoms he DID NOT have before -
these are symptoms that are produced by the remedy - this is called a
"proving" also.
Acute Illness/Treatment - In treating acute illness or first aid, it is
usually the result of an inappropriate potency or too frequent repetition
of the remedy.
Chronic Illness/Treatment - The typical view by most homeopaths is that
"aggravation is sometimes something that a homeopath wants to see (in
treating chronic illness)"
Here are 2 URLS who show that view:
http://www.homeoint.org/books4/close/chapter07.htm
http://www.t-gone.com/tinnitus-cure/hom ... _frame.asp
It has been taught for a long time that a homeopath wants to see an
aggravation at the beginning of cure...........that is not true. That is
4th edition of Organon thinking and Hahnemann went on to write 5th & 6th
edition showing his development in his ideas - we don't need or want
aggravations.
WE DO NOT WANT to see an aggravation at the beginning of treatment or
during treatment - we do sometimes see an aggravation toward the end of
cure when using remedies in water and that is a sign to stop the remedy.
It usually means too high a potency and too much dose.
We want a gentle cure.
http://www.homeoint.org/books/hahorgan/organ001.htm#P2
Aphorism 2 from the Organon
"The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of
the health, or removal and annihilation of the disease in its whole extent,
in the shortest, most reliable, and most harmless way, on easily
comprehensible principles."
**************
http://www.homeopathysnc.org/luc_de_sch ... opathy.htm
"Of course those homeopaths who adhere to the 4th edition of the Organon do
not care that their patients go through a similar aggravation of their
symptoms (existing symptoms aggravate), in fact they welcome it as it tells
them that they have chosen the right remedy."
1. ALWAYS (for acute as well as Chronic diseases) put the remedy
into water!
2. The dose (how much needs to be given) is just as much part of
the rightfully selected remedy as the name of the remedy.
3. Do not accept similar aggravations (an aggravation of your
existing symptoms). The watery solutions allow the homeopath to minimize
and even avoid such similar aggravation.
4. The smallness of the dose is a very much neglected part in
homeopathic circles. Many aggravations are due to giving a too large dose
rather than a too high potency. Always rather start with a cautious small
dose!
5. We will discuss potencies in the next lesson and will then take
the opportunity to accurately describe HOW these watery solutions should be
taken in acute and chronic diseases. The guidelines by Hahnemann are found
to be very exact and those who want to impose their own inventions on the
patient should try it first on themselves and their loved ones!
*************
http://www.homeopathysnc.org/luc_de_sch ... milars.htm
In other words we create a similar and stronger disease than what the
patient present. Does this mean we must make the patient sicker before he
gets better? This is an unfortunate thinking of many patients and present
homeopaths. As you will learn further, this aggravation of your existing
symptoms (called similar aggravation) can be totally avoided by selecting
the right potency, frequency of repetition and dose (see further lectures).
Your homeopath must be familiar with the 5th and 6th edition of the Organon
and at this point at least 90% of homeopaths in the world are not!
******
http://www.hpathy.com/interviews/schepp ... sation.asp
Indeed when we talk about a life threathening situation then indeed we
repeat even every 15 minutes if need be; but, in Aphorism 157 it says that
a homeopathic aggravation can be expected within the hour of the first
dose. And if that happens--Aphorism 158--there is a high probability that
the disease will be cured by this first dose. So you can imagine, that if
the patient would repeat during the aggravation time, let’s say every 15
minutes in the first hour when the similar aggravation occurs, the similar
aggravation will be more outspoken, confusing the patient and homeopath alike!
" I have seen cases where three DROPS of the medicine was too much causing
a similar aggravation, one drop did not do anything, but two drops was the
required dose"
"Keep in mind that 90% of the world still practices according to the 4th
edition dry dose method.
1. The 4th edition prescriber WANTS a similar aggravation, an aggravation
of the patient's symptoms, since it tells him he has the right remedy
(which does not mean OUR wanted simillimum, which is the right remedy,
right dose and right potency). The 5th and 6th edition prescriber wants to
minimize and even totally avoid this similar aggravation! You can only
imagine what that does to the patient. Let's say you have an eczema case
responding to Mezereum: the picture of such eczema is an extreme violent
itching at night, "as if thousands ants crawling under the skin." The child
is usually in a restraint so as not to scratch himself but usually the
patient presents with a face that is one bloody mess, infecting
easily...Imagine you aggravate such a child (4th edition): imagine the
agony this child and the parents alike! Does the homeopath think he can
keep this patient after the first aggravating dose? Too many patients have
been lost forever to homeopathy. Imagine, as I also had, the violent ADHD
child that wants to kill his father and sister so he can marry his mother.
You aggravate him and he will kill them!"
4. "In case of similar aggravation, the advanced prescriber easily adjusts
the second dose which can already be given on the third day, not three
weeks later as the 4th edition prescriber does. He has many possibilities
adjusting the dose (the amount, succussions or potency, 2nd cup, giving
drops from the bottle and cup while the only remedy the 4th edition
prescriber has is either cancelling the remedy or trying to give a lower
potency to slow down the aggravation. Either way is losing time again which
is a concern for the patient and the possibility of losing him."
*********
http://www.wholehealthnow.com/books/simillimum.html
Click on "From the Book "
"As a classical homeopath, I have learned great respect for these
principles, because over the years I also have given wrong remedies and
caused negative effects, suppressed symptoms with partial simillimums,
disrupted the Vital Force with untimely repetition, and aggravated to the
point that antidoting was necessary."
********
http://www.minimum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=683
excerpt from this thread where Dr. Luc responds.........
"You have to distinguish of course between similar and dissimilar
aggravations. For instance similar aggravations (aggravation of existing
symptoms) is even desired by the 4th edition Organon prescriber and
rejected by the 5th and 6th edition prescriber.
In reality the good homeopath, using the advanced methods should avoid at
all cost similar aggravations. Imagine as I do, dealing with very violent
children, who want to kill their father to marry their mother (Freud would
have been in his element) and you aggravate such person on purpose...He
will kill his father!
And no one who suffers from mental. emotional or physical disease wants an
aggravation
Every similar aggravation SLOWS DOWN the cure as one needs to WAIT and
watch (4th edition).
The other aggravation, DISSIMILAR aggravation, is even worse as now a wrong
remedy is given to the patient and if continued can now create a NEW
medicinal disease, added to the natural disease! Does it happen often? You
bet. I am amazed how worldwide homeopaths don't even recognize an
aggravation. I discuss these issues extensively in my books, Hahnemann
Revisited and even more in Achieving the Simillimum. ......Tthese horrible
experiences lead people to abandoning homeopathy forever. Even the right
remedy (and I read that famous homeopaths claim just the remedy is
important, not how much is given or what potency) in the wrong dose and/or
potency can do great harm.
Again I need to refer the reader to Aphorims 275 and 276. Are these
"famous" homeopaths blind in the practice? And they teach this to others?
So indeed Homeopathy to quote Kent in the hands of the unexperienced
homeopath is like falling into a pit full of vipers. The power of
homeopathy is great, but to bring out its great healing nature rather than
a destructive side, its ground principles must be followed to the T and
good management is essential!
Warm regards
Dr luc
and in a response further down.........
"aggravations can lead to adding medicinal symptoms to the original natural
disease of the patient, especially a dissimilar aggravation. So in that
case you can call this side effects of the homeopathic remedy. Obviuously
it is not in the same meaning than allopathic meds. ALL allopathic meds
have numerous side efects even if they administered correctly. This is NOT
the case in homeopathy: skillful administrstion by a competent practitioner
does not lead to "side effects."
Side effects are only caused by incompetency in prescribing and management "
Dr luc
Organon aphorisms at the end of this email
*************
http://drluc.blogspot.com/2007/04/lectu ... cy-of.html
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Homeopathy: The Potency of the Remedy (How Strong?) and the Repetition of
the Dose (How Often?)
excerpt
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.
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!
Posted by Dr. Luc De Schepper at 8:47 AM
***********
http://www.wholehealthnow.com/homeopath ... on-04.html
excerpts from.......................
A Comparison of the C and LM Potency 5th and 6th Organon Written by: David
Little
"This healing process ideally takes place with no aggravations, no crisis,
and no overly noticeable reactions other than the rapid restoration of
health and vitality (148). That is the goal of the Similia Minimus of the
6th Organon.
High potency centesimals made on machines with many dilutions with strong
succussions produce aggravations at the start of treatment that limit the
curative secondary effect of the vital force.
In the LM method the gentle primary effect of the remedy replaces the
natural disease without aggravation at the start of treatment and produces
a long enduring gentle curative effect in the life force that removes the
remedy disease from without and returns to full and health vitality within.
With the LM potency there is no need for a crisis-like aggravation to cure
natural diseases. The proper LM simillimum in the minimal dose produces
rapid transformations to the state of health and the restoration of
vitality without any noticeable excessive reactions."
"The correct dose of the LM potency in medicinal solution produces a
non-aggressive primary action, no aggravations, and a long enduring gentle
curative effect by the life principle."
"Hahnemann changed his opinion about the need for aggravation when he
discovered the LM potency and the split-dose of the medicinal solution in
the 1840s."
"By the publication of the 6th Organon Hahnemann no longer believed it was
necessary to compel the vital force to cure through aggravations. There are
no aggravations with the LM potency if the remedy is slowed down as the
patient improves and stopped at the correct time."
"The LMs tend to aggravate at the end of treatment when the pathology is
healed and vitality restored. This is a sign that the remedy is no longer
needed. If the remedy is slowed down as the patient improves, there will be
no aggravation at the end of treatment."
"The C potencies have a rapid onset and reach aggravation at the beginning
of treatment when the patient is the most ill and the weakest. This is not
the best situation. This is another reason why the LMs are suitable for
many inherited and acquired chronic diseases and miasms."
***********
http://www.simillimum.com/education/hom ... dex.php#10
"10. I have heard that Homoeopathic remedies can make the patient feel
worse before they feel better. Homoeopaths call this an aggravation. What
is an aggravation?
Return to Homoeo FAQ | Top of Page
David Little: Sometimes a homoeopathic remedy will cause an increase in the
symptoms of the disease state for a short period. Samuel Hahnemann
developed techniques that reduce the phenomena of aggravation completely or
at least to a minimum. A homoeopathic aggravation is a sign that the
correct remedy has been given and the remedy is acting very deeply on the
disease state. If the dose and potency of the remedy has been given
properly, this aggravation will pass off quickly, and be followed by
noticeable improvement. If the aggravation is overly uncomfortable and
prolonged, it is a sign that the patient is overmedicated. This situation
should be reported to the homoeopath immediately so corrective measures can
be applied when necessary. Normally, aggravations are not dangerous unless
the person administering the medicine is not properly trained. Some
practitioners think that they must aggravate the symptoms to cure the
patient. They believe in the "no pain - no gain" philosophy. This is a sign
that this person has not learned all the checks and balances that make
Homoeopathy a gentle, safe and effective medical system. At times a
homoeopathic remedy may bring out old latent disease states in the process
of treatment. This is a natural healing crisis. Although such conditions
may be uncomfortable for a short period, they are immediately followed by
an increase in the sense of well-being and vitality. This condition should
also be reported to the homoeopath so that they can manage the situation in
the proper manner. If the classical teachings of Homoeopathy are well
understood such manifestations are easily controlled and lead to better
states of health."
**********
http://www.simillimum.com/education/lit ... ilosophy/t
md/article.php
excerpts
"Kent was a grand proponent of this tradition as he practiced in accordance
with the methods of the 4th Organon and the first edition of The Chronic
Disease.s This is the methodology practiced by most homoeopaths today. Over
the next fifteen years, however, Homoeopathy went through a tremendous
transformation as Hahnemann sought to perfect his system. During these
years he produced four new editions of the Chronic Diseases (1830, 1835,
1837, 1839) and the 5th (1833) and 6th (1842) editions of The Organon were
written. Unfortunately, modern homoeopaths have yet to realize that the
size of the dose and the nature of its delivery system is intimately
related to the phenomena of aggravation."
"He echoed this experience in the 6th Organon of the Healing arts. Vide
aphorism 275.
"For this reason, a medicine, even though it may be homoeopathically
suited to the case of disease, does harm in every dose that is too large,
and in strong doses it does more harm the greater its homoeopathicity and
the higher the potency selected, and it does much more injury than any
equally large dose of a medicine that is unhomoeopathic and in no respect
adapted to the morbid state (allopathic)".
The closer the simillimum and the more serious the case, the more the size
of the dose becomes critical. This conclusion was the outcome of many
disturbed nights in which the Hofrath contemplated how to overcome the
side-effects of rapidly developing Homoeopathy and perfect the potency and
the dose factors. Hahnemann openly shared with his student the problems
that he caused when he gave too many dry pills of his new anti-miasmic
remedies. Vide The Chronic Diseases in 1828.
"I have myself experienced this accident, which is very obstructive to
cure and cannot be avoided too carefully. Still ignorant of the strength of
its medicinal power, I gave Sepia in too large a dose. This trouble was
still more manifest when I gave Lycopodium and Silica potentized to the
one-billionth degree, giving four to six pellets, though only as large as
poppy seeds. Discite moniti!"*
*Latin, This is a warning, 'Don't do this!'. Many of those new to
homoeopathy do not understand why traditional homoeopaths become so
conservative with their remedies. It is the fruit of the sleepless nights
when we burned the midnight oil trying to find out what we did wrong and
how to put it right. We wish to help the neophytes avoid the mistakes we
have made in the past.
For this reason he offers a warning in the 5th and 6th Organon and The
Chronic Diseases that the size of the dose must be controlled when using
high potency homoeopathic remedies. Most modern homoeopaths pay little
attention to the preparation of remedial dose and do not take the size of
the dose into account when adjusting the dose to suit the sensitivity of
the individual constitution and temperament. This is a great mistake and
has led to the misconception that homoeopathic remedies cannot cure unless
they first aggravate the disease.
Even James Kent pointed out that the best reaction is the speedy recovery
of the health. Aggravations of any kind are to be avoided as much as
possible. All aggravations must be studied closely to see if they are
similar, dissimilar, accessory symptoms, or a natural healing crisis. This
is the way the homoeopath analyzes the symptom phenomena to see if the
remedy was correct but the dose incorrect, whether the remedy was
incorrect, if the remedy was a partial simillimum, or if the symptoms are
following Hahnemann's direction of cure (Hering's laws). "
http://www.minimum.com/interviews/drlucpt2cml.htm
It is Kent who steered all the next generations of homeopaths on the wrong
path, as he never bothered to use the 5th edition split method (which he
could have-1833!) and with his belief that the "dose (or amount of pellets)
was of no importance". This goes into the face of everything Hahnemann said
and what every observing practitioner has seen. Although in his Lesser
Writings , Kent stated that "no similar aggravation" is what we need to
strive for, he was known to have caused countless severe aggravations.
Unfortunately, even well known homeopaths today, think that they need to
cause a "similar aggravation" in order to know they applied the simillimum,
something Hahnemann had removed from his teachings in the 6th edition of
the Organon (A161). Kent and therefore most homeopaths under his influence,
never even applied watery doses and never dared to repeat a dose "while the
patient was improving, A246." Regarding the "myth" that Hahnemann was
suffering from senility in his later years, it is a cheap excuse for those
who claim so to abandon Hahnemann's teachings and apply their own
frivolities. One only has to study the microfiches of his Paris years and
read statements from those that were present in those years (Dr Croserio,
read Lesser Writings of von Boenninghausen) to observe that until the last
days of his life he remained a staunch intellectual, industrious 'till the
end to provide us with his last legacy, the LM potency. For more about
this split method and Hahnemann’s later years, I refer the reader to my
book, " Achieving and Maintaining the Simillimum."
***********
http://www.otherhealth.com/archive/inde ... -3151.html
his postings on the LMs - what kind of aggravation can be expected? how
treatment is an aggravation likely? I would appreciate any info on this.
The best treatment is one with absolutely no aggravation. We are not
seeking aggravations in the beginning, middle or end of treatment.
Nevertheless. the LM potency has a tendency to cause a slight aggravation
at toward the end of treatment as a sign that the patient is nearly
complete cure. By this time, the patient symptoms are usually almost if not
all gone and their vitality is complete restored. In may experience it is
not usually an aggravation former particular symptoms, although this can
happen. It usually the aggravation of the general symptoms or a feeling of
slight malaise where the patient feels as if some symptoms are going to
come on. Hahnemann discusses this situation and it case management
procedures in aphorisms 280 and 281 of the 6th Organon. The way to see if
this is the aggravation late in the treatment is a relapse or a sign the
cure is approaching is to wait and watch for a few days. This type of
aggravation passes of very quickly and is follow by a state of feeling
totally well. If it is a relapse the patient will continue to decline.
The aggravation of the patient at the end of the treatment is a slight that
the cure is almost attained or is complete. When one stops the medicine it
should wear off quickly. If the patient improves when the medicine is
stopped but later begins to show symptoms this is a sign that they still
need a little more medicine but the intervals of repetition should be slow
down. This on again off again method is continued until there are no
relapses showing the patient needs no more medicine.
There is a great difference between the aggravation seen at the start of
treatment with the C potency and the aggravation at the end of treatment
cause by the LM potency. An aggravation at the start of treatment is
experienced when the patient is feeling ill, the vital force is deranged
and the vitality is compromised. If there is organic pathology present a
strong aggravation can be potentially dangerous and drain too much precious
vitality. The LM aggravation near or at the end of treatment takes place
after the pathology is removed and the vitality is restored. This does no
pose any danger to the patient. It is simple the appearance of a few
remedial symptoms in areas where the patient was ill.
When you use the C potency in medicinal solution it modifies the tendency
of the remedy to aggravate at the start of treatment. Nevertheless, the C
potency still has this tendency to aggravate earlier even with a control
small dose. This may be what makes the Cs so effective in crisis, acute
diseases and the during the primary symptoms of the chronic miasms. The C
potencies are also quite effective in chronic diseases that start with a
crisis and then progress fairly quickly into functional states and the
first states of pathology. For more on this read A Comparison of the C and
LM Potency on may website.
Sincerely, David Little
******
http://www.homeoint.org/books/hahorgan/ ... 0.htm#P275
§ 275
The suitableness of a medicine for any given case of disease does not
depend on its accurate homoeopathic selection alone, but likewise on the
proper size, or rather smallness, of the dose. If we give too strong a dose
of a medicine which may have been even quite homoeopathically chosen for
the morbid state before us, it must, notwithstanding the inherent
beneficial character of its nature, prove injurious by its mere magnitude,
and by the unnecessary, too strong impression which, by virtue of its
homoeopathic similarity of action, it makes upon the vital force which it
attacks and, through the vital force, upon those parts of the organism
which are the most sensitive, and are already most affected by the natural
disease.
§ 276 Fifth Edition
For this reason, a medicine, even though it may be homoeopathically suited
to the case of disease, 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 homoeopathicity and the higher the potency selected,
and it does much more injury than any equally large dose of a medicine that
is unhomoeopathic, and in no respect adapted (allopathic) to the morbid
state; for in the former case the so-called homoeopathic aggravation
(§§157-160) - that is to say, the very analogous medicinal disease produced
by the vital force stirred up by the excessively large dose of medicine, in
the parts of the organism that are most suffering and most irritated by the
original disease - which medicinal disease, had it been of appropriate
intensity, would have gently effected a cure - rises to an injurious
height;2 the patient, to be sure, no longer suffers from the original
disease, for that has been homoeopathically eradicated, but he suffers all
the more from the excessive medicinal disease and from useless exhaustion
of his strength.
1 The praise bestowed of late years by some few homoeopathists on the
larger doses is owing to this, either that they chose low dynamizations of
the medicines to be administered, as I myself used to do twenty years ago,
from not knowing any better, or that the medicines selected were not
perfectly homoeopathic.
AND
http://www.homeoint.org/books/hahorgan/ ... htm#P157E6
§ 157 Sixth Edition
But though it is certain that a homoeopathically selected remedy does, by
reason of its appropriateness and the minuteness of the dose, gently remove
and annihilate the acute disease analogous to it, without manifesting its
other unhomoeopathic symptoms, that is to say, without the production of
new, serious disturbances, yet it usually, immediately after ingestion -
for the first hour, or for a few hours - causes a kind of slight
aggravation when the dose has not been sufficiently small and (where the
dose has been somewhat too large, however, for a considerable number of
hours), which has so much resemblance to the original disease that it seems
to the patient to be an aggravation of his own disease. But it is, in
reality, nothing more than an extremely similar medicinal disease, somewhat
exceeding in strength the original affection.
§ 158
This slight homoeopathic aggravation during the first hours - a very good
prognostic that the acute disease will most probably yield to the first
dose - is quite as it ought to be, as the medicinal disease must naturally
be somewhat stronger than the malady to be cured if it is to overpower and
extinguish the latter, just as a natural disease can remove and annihilate
another one similar to it only when it is stronger than the latter (§§ 43 -
48).
§ 159 Sixth Edition
The smaller the dose of the homoeopathic remedy is in the treatment of
acute diseases so much the slighter and shorter is the apparent increase of
the disease during the first hours.
§ 160
But as the dose of a homoeopathic remedy can scarcely ever be made so small
that it shall not be able to relieve, overpower, indeed completely cure and
annihilate the uncomplicated natural disease of not long standing that is
analogous to it (§ 249, note), we can understand why a does of an
appropriate homoeopathic medicine, not the very smallest possible, does
always, during the first hour after its ingestion, produce a perceptible
homoeopathic aggravation of this kind.1
1 This exaltation of the medicinal symptoms over those disease symptoms
analogous to them, which looks like an aggravation, has been observed by
other physicians also, when by accident they employed a homoeopathic
remedy. When a patient suffering from itch complains of an increase of the
eruption after sulphur, his physician who knows not the cause of this,
consoles him with the assurance that the itch must first come out properly
before it can be cured; he knows not, however, that this is a sulphur
eruption, that assumes the appearance of an increase of the itch.
The facial eruption which the viola tricolor cured was aggravated by it at
the commencement of its action, Leroy tells us (Heilk, fur Mutter, p.406),
but he knew not that the apparent aggravation was owing to the somewhat too
large dose of the remedy, which in this instance was to a certain extent
homoeopathic. Lysons says (Med. Transact., vol ii, London, 1772), The bark
of the elm cures most certainly those skin diseases which it increases at
the beginning of its action. Had he not given the bark in the monstrous
doses usual in the allopathic system, but in the quite small doses
requisite when the medicine shows similarity of symptoms, that is to say,
when it is used homoeopathically, he would have effected a cure without, or
almost without, seeing this apparent increase of the disease (homoeopathic
aggravation).
§ 161 Sixth Edition
When I here limit the so-called homoeopathic aggravation, or rather the
primary action of the homoeopathic medicine that seems to increase somewhat
the symptoms of the original disease, to the first or few hours, this is
certainly true with respect to diseases of a more acute character and of
recent origin, but where medicines of long action have to combat a malady
of, considerable or of very long standing, where no such apparent increase
of the original disease ought to appear during treatment and it does not so
appear if the accurately chosen medicine was given in proper small,
gradually higher doses, each somewhat modified with renewed dynamization (§
247). Such increase of the original symptoms of a chronic disease can
appear only at the end of treatment when the cure is almost or quite finished.
Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath
http://www.wellwithin1.com/homeo.htm