Potency choice
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2002 7:45 pm
Charlotte wrote:
Hello Charlotte and Minutus,
Dr L G K Moorthy did!
I'm discussing his method by mail with him, so if there are any questions
for him let me know.
Kind regards, Piet
Potency Precisionneuindia.com
Potency Precision-A Breakthrough ---by Dr L G K Moorthy - Banganga Society,
Govandi, Mumbai.India
Introduction:
Only during the last century has Homeopathy gained international repute as
one
of the important holistic systems of medicine. Homeopathy believes in the
Vital
Force pervading the entire human body and controlling all its functions.
This
vital force responds to all external material stimuli. The secondary action
of
such inputs is curative for the vital force when the disease picture matches
the
drug picture. This drug picture is developed by the application of material
inputs to healthy human beings.
In the early days, Hahnemann and his followers used comparatively strong
material doses of the medicine for the purpose of proving them. It is also
known
that initial prescription of strong doses cause aggravation of the disease
followed by cure. Later experience taught that diluted and potentised doses
are
enough and have tremendous curative application.
Homeopathic Potency
From the days of hahnemann till today, the choice of the correct potency,
viz,
the correct dilution and its interaction with the vital force both in health
and
disease remains a mystery. Repetition has also been subjected to much uneven
ideas.
The contributory factors are-
i) The need to regain a semblance of health or at least functional ease in
preference to letting nature work its process to establish radical cure.
ii) A variety of strong chemicals in the form medicines , fertilizers,
pesticides, pollutants and even cosmetics have created such violent
disturbance
that the human being has lost track of simple and healthy living.
This has vitiated the immune response so much that what was once conceived
as a
single curative dose is no more applicable. Alas !
Several theories exist about the suitability of potencies viz-
Nash propagates high potency
Boericke and many others stick to low potency.
Recently Vithoulkas potentised proposed consecutive repetitions of three
or
four doses of a reasonably high potency on each succeeding day to elicit
the
best results.
Rawat has prepared an exhaustive compendum of opinions and experiences on
the
potency issue. Some of the authors covered by him are in the list of
references.
A scientific attitude to quantitatively match the potency with dynamics of
the
vital force has remained an open question.
Gut feel prevails over sound principles.
Person versus Potency
Health is now definitely recognised as a state of equilibrium within,
unaffected
by the changes in the surroundings. Such a state removes consciousness of
the
existence of any part of the body or the mind. Only when excited or
depressed
does it show dis-ease, a state of in-equilibrium. However, the healthy
organism,
viz the vital force is constantly subjected to inputs from the external
world,
as stimuli to the senses and to the bodily functions. These stimuli may be
from
food, medicines, poisons and other s like microbes, viruses etc.
All materials in the world have an interaction with the human systems in
three
ways- viz thro food, poison and medicine. Let us consider a simple substance
like common salt-Natrum.muriaticum. Salt allows sustenance of physical
activity.
It is well known how weak the human being feels when salt is eliminated in
the
food or through severe perspiration. The same salt, if taken in excessive
quantities creates disease as a result of its primary action on the
organism,
producing thirst, skin irritation, loss of hair etc.
At the other end of the spectrum, let us understand the influence of
substances
like Arsenic and Nux-vomica. A few grams of these can be fatal. It might not
be
very well known that administration of poison in highly controlled
conditions
can act as an excellent nutrient and tonic. In potentised form the curative
powers of such poisons is well known to Homeopathic practitioners.
A system in dynamic equilibrium with itself and its surroundings is defined
as a
healthy vital force.
The action of disease and medicine must be Homeopathically linked, suited in
quality as well as quantity. The qualitative aspect is amply illustrated by
the
original dictum similia similibus curentur. The quantitative aspect is
illustrated below.
Quantitative Potency Concept:
A particular remedy in different potencies has contrasting primary and
secondary
effects.
The relation between a remedy and sickness is neither optional nor
arbitrary. It
can certainly be matched quantitatively. The after-effect of a drug in
strong
material doses is in direct opposition to the same first effect when taken
in
weak potentised dose e.g. Opium.
Opium in high dilution is not administered as a narcotic but as a stimulant
in
cases of weakness and relaxation. The same is the case even with daily
intake of
poisonous substances such as alcohol, tea, coffee and tobacco which are
stimulants in the normal intake and cause depression and breakdown of
strength
and energy. Surprisingly, one conclusion emanates- a drug has its own
antidotal
influence. The potentised dose annuls the effects of the strong !
The impulse to disease is not always of a positive nature. Its effect is not
always one which brings abnormal phenomena in the organism. It can check or
paralyse physiological action and hence become a restraining force and a
negative influence.
Hence it is necessary to distinguish between the positively acting material
doses and negatively acting potency. What is needed is a dose which
restores
medical neutrality, ie the equilibrium. The positive and stimulating dose,
which
is stronger than the neutral, produces an aggravation and a negative potency
hinders the action of the vital force. The following axiomatic concept
evolves:
All positive conditions of illness with diseased irritation required
negative
doses of medicines -viz, Higher dilutions. All negative conditions of
illness
which cause retardation of function require positive doses of medicine -viz
Lower potencies.
Let it be remembered that the basic Homeopathic principle of small dose
stands
exemplified.
Potency Matching:
The interaction of unmatched potencies and their actions on the equilibrium
condition is illustrated below-
a) Positive disease -If the potency is unmatched in negativity, the result
of
such a prescription will be that part of the positive irritation of the
disease
remains untouched. The insufficient dose viz not being potentised enough
would
certainly produce a certain change for the better. The symptoms partially
give
way but would never disappear entirely even with continued use of the same
potency.
Case 1:
A young girl, married , had heavy menstrual bleeding ever since her puberty.
A
couple of curettings worsened the menorrhagia. Heavy clots, pain and
continuous
bleeding. Natrum- mur, Sabina etc failed to produce results. Carcinosin 200
temporarily arrested the menorrhagia for one month. Periods reverted to
original. Such positive irritation needed the more negative
potency-Carcinosin1
M was administered with excellent results. An occasional repetition has
restored her to normalcy.
Case 2 :
A young person suddenly developed one early morning restlessness with
intense
pain in the region of right lower abdomen. Restless moaning and thirst for
small
quantities of water indicated Arsenicum. Two doses of 30th potency
temporarily
relieved but the complaints returned within a quarter of an hour. The
negativeness of the dose for the acute positive condition of the disease was
insufficient. A single dose of the 200th potency put him to sleep in two
minutes. After 3 hours the patient woke up perfectly normal.
Negative disease :
When negative dysfunction is observed from the vital force, any amount of
high
potency cannot create the desired cure. The choice of higher potencies was
thought of in earlier practice due to the concept of Inherited Miasm
influence
the long standing nature of the suffering. Such negative dose may intensify
dysfunction and would be interpreted as Homeopathic aggravation. The Vital
Force
is to regain time for the negative potency effect, to dissipate itself to
restore the original diseased condition.
A relatively positive dose, insufficient for the case of highly negative
diseased state would result in partial improvement and not a complete cure.
It
has to be strengthened by going down the scale of potency. Similar is the
case
when too insufficient a negative dose is administered in a positive state of
irritation. In addition to the example of menorrhagia given above, the
following
case will illustrate this.
Case 3 :
A boy of 13 was mentally underdeveloped. He was dull with slow grasping.
Assuming miasmatic barriers, Syphillinum in high potency negative dose
followed
by silicea 1 M was administered periodically for a year. No improvement.
Silica
6 was subsequently administered continuously for two years with exemplary
effect. The boy had grown physically and succeeded in his school examination
reasonably well. He behaves more sensibly and friendly. The positive effect
of
the medicine resulted in few painful boils. The medicine was discontinued
for
short intervals.
Potency Repetition :
It has been brought out that too strong a positive dose, if administered,
will
produce Homeopathic aggravation in the positive direction. However, the
body
manufactures the suitable dilution of the drug through secretion in the
course
of metabolism and restores itself to health. However, if a highly negative
potency is administered, the surplus negative energy and its obstructing
action
remains stored innthe body to slowly dissipate away. The remaining negative
force becomes suspended as if it finds no point of attack inthe organism
provided the high potencies are not administered.
Additional Clinical Tips :
a) Constitution-
It can be seen that the ultimate goal of cure may be achieved in different
way.
It is necessary to understand the principles of quantitative interaction to
eliminate unnecessary reactions in the positive or negative directions. It
is
also necessary to allow sufficient intervals between repetition of doses to
observe the change - whether it is less positive, less less negative, more
positive or more negative. The strong and weak conditions of the medicines
are
relative to the state of the Vital force. The strength or weakness of a dose
must be in reference to the individual patient and his his or her
personality.
Susceptibility and sensitivity also come in to the picture as per the
classical
concept of Homeopathy. Some may appear robust but may have a very delicate
nervous system. To this class belong the neurotics as well as people who
lead a
temperate life, avoiding all stimulants such as alcohol, tobacco and live
only
on vegetable diet and who possess undrugged constitution. The other class
consists of torpid natures whose capacity of the nervous system for
stimulation
is lesser. Such condition of weakness, paralysis, blockage of the organism,
atrophy and illness due to congestion need the positive potencies. So down
this
scale by senile and invalid individuals, who, due to continuous intake of
drugs
need stimulation of the positive potencies.
b) Children- Generally children need negative dose of medicine than the
adults
because the organism is more tender, sensitive.
c) Climate- There is a need to prescribe higher dilutions with progressive
increase in the geographical latitude as well as altitude. Thinner air in
higher
altitudes livelier circulation and accelerated metabolism comes under the
same
class as above. Giving the lower potency positive doses is more effective
for
warm tropical lands. It is probable the greater warmth, and intensified skin
activity results in dissipation of medicinal effects. Damp neighborhood in
the
vicinity of great rivers, lakes, marshes and the sea requires administration
of
stronger, lower potencies.
d) Dosage and Repetitions- The need to watch aggravation or other effects of
each of the administered potencies has been illustrated. It is obvious that
a
drug is needed as long as the disease is not fully eliminated. Cure
progresses
in the reverse direction of the progress of the disease symptomatically. The
last symptom disappears first and the earliest are removed last. But it is
necessary to continue treatment till the last . Otherwise even a few weeds
can
grow a lot.
Summary
The drug must be selected as per the Homeopathic law of similars.
Every drug can make its influence felt in a two fold manner, according to
the
strength of the dose. The low potency positive dose stimulates the vital
force
.
The negative high potency dose slackens and checks the forces of the
organism.
Positive symptoms require negative doses of medicine and negative symptoms
require positive doses of medicine.
Inflammations, suppurative and feverish conditions and neurotic excitement
come under the positive class.
Negative symptoms cover atrophy, insufficient nourishment of the tissues,
neurotic depression and weakness.
High altitude, greater proximity to the poles, mountain, childhood and a
sensitive constitution need higher potencies.
Proximity to the equator, old age and a torpid constitution of the
invalids
are negative symptoms and lower potencies.
Positive symptoms aggravate with positive doses and negative illness with
negative doses.
A change for the worse that makes its appearance in the diseased
condition, in
consequence of a certain degree of strength of the dose demand a more
positive dose if the same was negative and if it was positive, a more
negative
dose.
The above principles have been tested in several instances in the author's
personal practices as well as illustrations from clinical observations of
various other practitioners. The author hopes sincerely that the material
presented puts the method or quantitative potency matching on sound
principles
and advances the marvelous work of the earlier masters further.
Hello Charlotte and Minutus,
Dr L G K Moorthy did!
I'm discussing his method by mail with him, so if there are any questions
for him let me know.
Kind regards, Piet
Potency Precisionneuindia.com
Potency Precision-A Breakthrough ---by Dr L G K Moorthy - Banganga Society,
Govandi, Mumbai.India
Introduction:
Only during the last century has Homeopathy gained international repute as
one
of the important holistic systems of medicine. Homeopathy believes in the
Vital
Force pervading the entire human body and controlling all its functions.
This
vital force responds to all external material stimuli. The secondary action
of
such inputs is curative for the vital force when the disease picture matches
the
drug picture. This drug picture is developed by the application of material
inputs to healthy human beings.
In the early days, Hahnemann and his followers used comparatively strong
material doses of the medicine for the purpose of proving them. It is also
known
that initial prescription of strong doses cause aggravation of the disease
followed by cure. Later experience taught that diluted and potentised doses
are
enough and have tremendous curative application.
Homeopathic Potency
From the days of hahnemann till today, the choice of the correct potency,
viz,
the correct dilution and its interaction with the vital force both in health
and
disease remains a mystery. Repetition has also been subjected to much uneven
ideas.
The contributory factors are-
i) The need to regain a semblance of health or at least functional ease in
preference to letting nature work its process to establish radical cure.
ii) A variety of strong chemicals in the form medicines , fertilizers,
pesticides, pollutants and even cosmetics have created such violent
disturbance
that the human being has lost track of simple and healthy living.
This has vitiated the immune response so much that what was once conceived
as a
single curative dose is no more applicable. Alas !
Several theories exist about the suitability of potencies viz-
Nash propagates high potency
Boericke and many others stick to low potency.
Recently Vithoulkas potentised proposed consecutive repetitions of three
or
four doses of a reasonably high potency on each succeeding day to elicit
the
best results.
Rawat has prepared an exhaustive compendum of opinions and experiences on
the
potency issue. Some of the authors covered by him are in the list of
references.
A scientific attitude to quantitatively match the potency with dynamics of
the
vital force has remained an open question.
Gut feel prevails over sound principles.
Person versus Potency
Health is now definitely recognised as a state of equilibrium within,
unaffected
by the changes in the surroundings. Such a state removes consciousness of
the
existence of any part of the body or the mind. Only when excited or
depressed
does it show dis-ease, a state of in-equilibrium. However, the healthy
organism,
viz the vital force is constantly subjected to inputs from the external
world,
as stimuli to the senses and to the bodily functions. These stimuli may be
from
food, medicines, poisons and other s like microbes, viruses etc.
All materials in the world have an interaction with the human systems in
three
ways- viz thro food, poison and medicine. Let us consider a simple substance
like common salt-Natrum.muriaticum. Salt allows sustenance of physical
activity.
It is well known how weak the human being feels when salt is eliminated in
the
food or through severe perspiration. The same salt, if taken in excessive
quantities creates disease as a result of its primary action on the
organism,
producing thirst, skin irritation, loss of hair etc.
At the other end of the spectrum, let us understand the influence of
substances
like Arsenic and Nux-vomica. A few grams of these can be fatal. It might not
be
very well known that administration of poison in highly controlled
conditions
can act as an excellent nutrient and tonic. In potentised form the curative
powers of such poisons is well known to Homeopathic practitioners.
A system in dynamic equilibrium with itself and its surroundings is defined
as a
healthy vital force.
The action of disease and medicine must be Homeopathically linked, suited in
quality as well as quantity. The qualitative aspect is amply illustrated by
the
original dictum similia similibus curentur. The quantitative aspect is
illustrated below.
Quantitative Potency Concept:
A particular remedy in different potencies has contrasting primary and
secondary
effects.
The relation between a remedy and sickness is neither optional nor
arbitrary. It
can certainly be matched quantitatively. The after-effect of a drug in
strong
material doses is in direct opposition to the same first effect when taken
in
weak potentised dose e.g. Opium.
Opium in high dilution is not administered as a narcotic but as a stimulant
in
cases of weakness and relaxation. The same is the case even with daily
intake of
poisonous substances such as alcohol, tea, coffee and tobacco which are
stimulants in the normal intake and cause depression and breakdown of
strength
and energy. Surprisingly, one conclusion emanates- a drug has its own
antidotal
influence. The potentised dose annuls the effects of the strong !
The impulse to disease is not always of a positive nature. Its effect is not
always one which brings abnormal phenomena in the organism. It can check or
paralyse physiological action and hence become a restraining force and a
negative influence.
Hence it is necessary to distinguish between the positively acting material
doses and negatively acting potency. What is needed is a dose which
restores
medical neutrality, ie the equilibrium. The positive and stimulating dose,
which
is stronger than the neutral, produces an aggravation and a negative potency
hinders the action of the vital force. The following axiomatic concept
evolves:
All positive conditions of illness with diseased irritation required
negative
doses of medicines -viz, Higher dilutions. All negative conditions of
illness
which cause retardation of function require positive doses of medicine -viz
Lower potencies.
Let it be remembered that the basic Homeopathic principle of small dose
stands
exemplified.
Potency Matching:
The interaction of unmatched potencies and their actions on the equilibrium
condition is illustrated below-
a) Positive disease -If the potency is unmatched in negativity, the result
of
such a prescription will be that part of the positive irritation of the
disease
remains untouched. The insufficient dose viz not being potentised enough
would
certainly produce a certain change for the better. The symptoms partially
give
way but would never disappear entirely even with continued use of the same
potency.
Case 1:
A young girl, married , had heavy menstrual bleeding ever since her puberty.
A
couple of curettings worsened the menorrhagia. Heavy clots, pain and
continuous
bleeding. Natrum- mur, Sabina etc failed to produce results. Carcinosin 200
temporarily arrested the menorrhagia for one month. Periods reverted to
original. Such positive irritation needed the more negative
potency-Carcinosin1
M was administered with excellent results. An occasional repetition has
restored her to normalcy.
Case 2 :
A young person suddenly developed one early morning restlessness with
intense
pain in the region of right lower abdomen. Restless moaning and thirst for
small
quantities of water indicated Arsenicum. Two doses of 30th potency
temporarily
relieved but the complaints returned within a quarter of an hour. The
negativeness of the dose for the acute positive condition of the disease was
insufficient. A single dose of the 200th potency put him to sleep in two
minutes. After 3 hours the patient woke up perfectly normal.
Negative disease :
When negative dysfunction is observed from the vital force, any amount of
high
potency cannot create the desired cure. The choice of higher potencies was
thought of in earlier practice due to the concept of Inherited Miasm
influence
the long standing nature of the suffering. Such negative dose may intensify
dysfunction and would be interpreted as Homeopathic aggravation. The Vital
Force
is to regain time for the negative potency effect, to dissipate itself to
restore the original diseased condition.
A relatively positive dose, insufficient for the case of highly negative
diseased state would result in partial improvement and not a complete cure.
It
has to be strengthened by going down the scale of potency. Similar is the
case
when too insufficient a negative dose is administered in a positive state of
irritation. In addition to the example of menorrhagia given above, the
following
case will illustrate this.
Case 3 :
A boy of 13 was mentally underdeveloped. He was dull with slow grasping.
Assuming miasmatic barriers, Syphillinum in high potency negative dose
followed
by silicea 1 M was administered periodically for a year. No improvement.
Silica
6 was subsequently administered continuously for two years with exemplary
effect. The boy had grown physically and succeeded in his school examination
reasonably well. He behaves more sensibly and friendly. The positive effect
of
the medicine resulted in few painful boils. The medicine was discontinued
for
short intervals.
Potency Repetition :
It has been brought out that too strong a positive dose, if administered,
will
produce Homeopathic aggravation in the positive direction. However, the
body
manufactures the suitable dilution of the drug through secretion in the
course
of metabolism and restores itself to health. However, if a highly negative
potency is administered, the surplus negative energy and its obstructing
action
remains stored innthe body to slowly dissipate away. The remaining negative
force becomes suspended as if it finds no point of attack inthe organism
provided the high potencies are not administered.
Additional Clinical Tips :
a) Constitution-
It can be seen that the ultimate goal of cure may be achieved in different
way.
It is necessary to understand the principles of quantitative interaction to
eliminate unnecessary reactions in the positive or negative directions. It
is
also necessary to allow sufficient intervals between repetition of doses to
observe the change - whether it is less positive, less less negative, more
positive or more negative. The strong and weak conditions of the medicines
are
relative to the state of the Vital force. The strength or weakness of a dose
must be in reference to the individual patient and his his or her
personality.
Susceptibility and sensitivity also come in to the picture as per the
classical
concept of Homeopathy. Some may appear robust but may have a very delicate
nervous system. To this class belong the neurotics as well as people who
lead a
temperate life, avoiding all stimulants such as alcohol, tobacco and live
only
on vegetable diet and who possess undrugged constitution. The other class
consists of torpid natures whose capacity of the nervous system for
stimulation
is lesser. Such condition of weakness, paralysis, blockage of the organism,
atrophy and illness due to congestion need the positive potencies. So down
this
scale by senile and invalid individuals, who, due to continuous intake of
drugs
need stimulation of the positive potencies.
b) Children- Generally children need negative dose of medicine than the
adults
because the organism is more tender, sensitive.
c) Climate- There is a need to prescribe higher dilutions with progressive
increase in the geographical latitude as well as altitude. Thinner air in
higher
altitudes livelier circulation and accelerated metabolism comes under the
same
class as above. Giving the lower potency positive doses is more effective
for
warm tropical lands. It is probable the greater warmth, and intensified skin
activity results in dissipation of medicinal effects. Damp neighborhood in
the
vicinity of great rivers, lakes, marshes and the sea requires administration
of
stronger, lower potencies.
d) Dosage and Repetitions- The need to watch aggravation or other effects of
each of the administered potencies has been illustrated. It is obvious that
a
drug is needed as long as the disease is not fully eliminated. Cure
progresses
in the reverse direction of the progress of the disease symptomatically. The
last symptom disappears first and the earliest are removed last. But it is
necessary to continue treatment till the last . Otherwise even a few weeds
can
grow a lot.
Summary
The drug must be selected as per the Homeopathic law of similars.
Every drug can make its influence felt in a two fold manner, according to
the
strength of the dose. The low potency positive dose stimulates the vital
force
.
The negative high potency dose slackens and checks the forces of the
organism.
Positive symptoms require negative doses of medicine and negative symptoms
require positive doses of medicine.
Inflammations, suppurative and feverish conditions and neurotic excitement
come under the positive class.
Negative symptoms cover atrophy, insufficient nourishment of the tissues,
neurotic depression and weakness.
High altitude, greater proximity to the poles, mountain, childhood and a
sensitive constitution need higher potencies.
Proximity to the equator, old age and a torpid constitution of the
invalids
are negative symptoms and lower potencies.
Positive symptoms aggravate with positive doses and negative illness with
negative doses.
A change for the worse that makes its appearance in the diseased
condition, in
consequence of a certain degree of strength of the dose demand a more
positive dose if the same was negative and if it was positive, a more
negative
dose.
The above principles have been tested in several instances in the author's
personal practices as well as illustrations from clinical observations of
various other practitioners. The author hopes sincerely that the material
presented puts the method or quantitative potency matching on sound
principles
and advances the marvelous work of the earlier masters further.