Creating a Remedy
fter
discussing dilutions and succussions, how remedies work on an
energetic level, and how there is no original substance from the
original plant/animal/mineral source in homeopathic remedies, I find
that clients invariably ask the same question: "So how exactly are
these remedies made anyway?" Patients are willing to take remedies on
faith, but they do want to know exactly what they are taking. From
experience I have found that the process does not lend itself well to a
verbal explanation, at least not to my inadequate attempts to do so,
because clients do tend to broach the same topic on subsequent visits.The difficulty of getting one's head around how this process works is one that I can easily relate to. Even after considerable study to memorize the technique for exams, I still found that I did not fully understand how trituration, dilution and succussion worked to gradually enhance the healing power of a substance.
What follows is a step-by-step description of the process, called dynamization or potentization. Reputable manufacturers of homeopathic remedies follow the same steps without cutting any corners. The only difference is that now modern machinery does much of the work that used to be done laboriously by hand.
"dynamization (potentization) the homeopathic process of serially diluting the remedy and
succussing (shaking) it with each dilution. This in turn imparts an 'intangible' energy to the
substance and/or releases innate healing power in the substance" (Yasgur).
"potentization (dynamization) the process of preparing a homeopathic remedy by repeated
dilution and succussion (shaking). It may be said that potentization involves the transfer of
information from one substance to another" (Yasgur).
"potentization [from LATIN potentia, power]. A multi-step process (involving dilution and
succussion, or trituration) by which the inner medicinal power of a crude substance is released
or increased. Synonym: dynamization. (Organon, Glossary by Wenda Brewster O'Reilly)
From Aphorisms 269-1, Organon of the Medical Art, 6th. ed., 1842:
"Potentization of Substances
For
its own special purpose, the homeopathic medical art develops to a
formerly unheard of degree the internal, spirit-like medicinal powers
of crude substances. It does so by means of a procedure which belongs
exclusively to it whereby these substances become altogether more than
ever -- indeed, immeasurably -- penetratingly effective and helpful, even those substances which, in
their crude state do not manifest the lease medicinal power
in the human body...
In order to best produce this development of power, a small quantity of the substance to be dynamized (about one grain) [note: one grain is equivalent to approximately 65 milligrams] is first raised to the one-millionth powder-attenuation by means of a three-hour trituration process. Three one-hour triturations are done, each using 100 grains of milk sugar...
Trituration to the one-hundredth powder-attenuation:
Preparation of medicine to the first degree of potency (LM1):
Continue the above procedure until the dissolved globule of the 29th degree of potency has formed a spiritized medicinal fluid with 100 drops of wine spirit, by means of 100 succussions, whereby globules that are moistened with this and dried are labeled the 30th degree of dynamization.
Only when crude medicinal substances are processed in this way, does one obtain preparations that have attained their full capability to aptly touch the suffering parts of the sick organism... By means of this mechanical processing (provided it is properly executed, as specified above) a given medicinal substance which, in its crude state, is only matter (in some cases, unmedicinal matter) is subtilized and transformed by these higher and higher dynamizations to become a spirit-like medicinal power.
This assertion will not appear improbable if one considers that with this method of dynamization -- which I have found after many laborious tests and counter-tests to be the most powerful and, at the same time, the mildest in action -- the material part of the medicine is attenuated about 50,000 times and yet it is incredibly increased in power. If we multiply by 50,000 at each progressive dynamization (following initial trituration which achieves a dilution ratio of 1,000,000 to 1) the material substance is already reduced to 125,000,000,000,000,000,000 at the third potency (1,000,000 x 50,000 x 50,000 x 50,000 = 125 x 10 to the 18th power). This is the dilution after triturating the substance to the one-millionth attenuation and then dynamizing it to the third potency (LM3). The thirtieth dynamization, prepared progressively in this way, gives a fraction of material substance almost impossible to express in numbers...
This medicinal power in itself no longer falls within our senses. The medicated globule becomes the carrier of this invisible power and, in this capacity, it documents the salutariness of that power in the sick body. The medicated globule carries this invisible power even when it is used dry, but far more when it is dissolved in water...
Physicians should prepare their own medicines until that day when the government (having attained insight as to the indispensability of perfectly prepared homeopathic medicines) has them manufactured by a capable, impartial person so that they may be given, free of charge, to homeopathic physicians of the land who are versed in cure, who have been trained in homeopathic hospitals, proven in both theory and practice, and thus certified. In this way, the physician will not only be assured of the intrinsic superior quality of these divine curative implements, he will also be able to give them free to his patients, rich and poor" (pp. 235-243)
An intriguing aspect of homeopathic remedies is that, when potentized, they no longer obey ordinary chemical laws. One can never predict what rabbit will pop out of the hat when a new, experimental remedy is prepared. The only way to ascertain its unique healing properties is to exhaustively test the prospective remedy in various potencies on healthy individuals (i.e., a proving).
I would like to conclude this section on remedies by sharing a very simple and elegant teaching experiment devised by John Sommerton, an instructor at the Toronto School of Homeopathic Medicine and a practicing homeopath in London ON, that illustrates the above concept. I have personally conducted this experiment with my class and the results have been consistently the same over many trials. Since it has been replicated many times, I can vouch for the reliability of the results.
For
its own special purpose, the homeopathic medical art develops to a
formerly unheard of degree the internal, spirit-like medicinal powers
of crude substances. It does so by means of a procedure which belongs
exclusively to it whereby these substances become altogether more than
ever -- indeed, immeasurably -- penetratingly effective and helpful, even those substances which, in
their crude state do not manifest the lease medicinal power
in the human body...In order to best produce this development of power, a small quantity of the substance to be dynamized (about one grain) [note: one grain is equivalent to approximately 65 milligrams] is first raised to the one-millionth powder-attenuation by means of a three-hour trituration process. Three one-hour triturations are done, each using 100 grains of milk sugar...
Trituration to the one-hundredth powder-attenuation:
- Obtain milk sugar of that especially pure kind that is crystallized on threads and comes to us in the form of round bars.
- Put one third of 100 grains of powdered milk sugar in a glazed porcelain mortar, the bottom of which has been roughened by rubbing it with fine, moist sand.
- Put 1 grain of the powdered medicinal substance to be triturated on top of the powdered milk sugar.
- Mix the medicine and the powder with a porcelain spatula for a moment.
- Triturate the mixture rather strongly for 6 to 7 minutes, using a porcelain pestle that has been rubbed dull.
- For 3 to 4 minutes, thoroughly scrape the mass from the bottom of the mortar and from the pestle, to make it homogeneous.
- Continue the trituration (as described in step 5) for another 6 to 7 minutes.
- Scrape the mass (as described in step 6) for another 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the second third of the milk sugar.
- Repeat steps 4-8.
- Add the last third of the milk sugar.
- Repeat steps 4-8.
- Put the powder in a well-corked vial that protects it from sunlight and daylight.
- Label the vial with the name of the substance and the number 1/100 (to indicate the first centesimal trituration, 1C).
- Mix 1 grain of the 1/100 powder with 1/3 of 100 grains of powdered milk sugar.
- Follow steps 4-13 above.
- Label the vial with the name of the substance and the number 1/10,000 (to indicate the second centesimal trituration, 2C).
- Mix 1 grain of the 1/10,000 powder with one third of 100 grains of powdered milk sugar.
- Follow steps 4-13 above.
- Label it with the name of the substance and the number 1/1,000,000 (to indicate the third centesimal trituration, 3C). Each grain of this powder contains one millionth of a grain of the original substance.
Preparation of medicine to the first degree of potency (LM1):
- Dissolve 1 grain of the triturated powder (i.e., the substance triturated to the one-millionth attenuation) in 500 drops of a mixture that is 1 part brandywine (90 proof grain alcohol) and 4 parts distilled water.
- Place a single drop of this mixture in a vial.
- Add 100 drops of a good wine spirit (90 proof grain alcohol) to the vial.
- Give the tightly corked vial 100 strong succussions with the hand against a hard but elastic body, such as a leather-bound book. This is the first degree of dynamization.
- Thoroughly moisten fine sugar globules with this liquid.
- Rapidly spread the sugar globules on blotting paper to dry.
- Store the globules in a tightly stoppered little vial with the sign of the first degree of potency.
- Protect the bottle from heat and daylight.
- Take 1 globule of the medicine potentized to the first degree (LM1) and put it in a new vial (with a drop of water in order to dissolve it).
- Follow steps 3-8 above, labeling the bottle with the sign of the second degree of potency.
Continue the above procedure until the dissolved globule of the 29th degree of potency has formed a spiritized medicinal fluid with 100 drops of wine spirit, by means of 100 succussions, whereby globules that are moistened with this and dried are labeled the 30th degree of dynamization.
Only when crude medicinal substances are processed in this way, does one obtain preparations that have attained their full capability to aptly touch the suffering parts of the sick organism... By means of this mechanical processing (provided it is properly executed, as specified above) a given medicinal substance which, in its crude state, is only matter (in some cases, unmedicinal matter) is subtilized and transformed by these higher and higher dynamizations to become a spirit-like medicinal power.
This assertion will not appear improbable if one considers that with this method of dynamization -- which I have found after many laborious tests and counter-tests to be the most powerful and, at the same time, the mildest in action -- the material part of the medicine is attenuated about 50,000 times and yet it is incredibly increased in power. If we multiply by 50,000 at each progressive dynamization (following initial trituration which achieves a dilution ratio of 1,000,000 to 1) the material substance is already reduced to 125,000,000,000,000,000,000 at the third potency (1,000,000 x 50,000 x 50,000 x 50,000 = 125 x 10 to the 18th power). This is the dilution after triturating the substance to the one-millionth attenuation and then dynamizing it to the third potency (LM3). The thirtieth dynamization, prepared progressively in this way, gives a fraction of material substance almost impossible to express in numbers...
This medicinal power in itself no longer falls within our senses. The medicated globule becomes the carrier of this invisible power and, in this capacity, it documents the salutariness of that power in the sick body. The medicated globule carries this invisible power even when it is used dry, but far more when it is dissolved in water...
Physicians should prepare their own medicines until that day when the government (having attained insight as to the indispensability of perfectly prepared homeopathic medicines) has them manufactured by a capable, impartial person so that they may be given, free of charge, to homeopathic physicians of the land who are versed in cure, who have been trained in homeopathic hospitals, proven in both theory and practice, and thus certified. In this way, the physician will not only be assured of the intrinsic superior quality of these divine curative implements, he will also be able to give them free to his patients, rich and poor" (pp. 235-243)
An intriguing aspect of homeopathic remedies is that, when potentized, they no longer obey ordinary chemical laws. One can never predict what rabbit will pop out of the hat when a new, experimental remedy is prepared. The only way to ascertain its unique healing properties is to exhaustively test the prospective remedy in various potencies on healthy individuals (i.e., a proving).
I would like to conclude this section on remedies by sharing a very simple and elegant teaching experiment devised by John Sommerton, an instructor at the Toronto School of Homeopathic Medicine and a practicing homeopath in London ON, that illustrates the above concept. I have personally conducted this experiment with my class and the results have been consistently the same over many trials. Since it has been replicated many times, I can vouch for the reliability of the results.
Beyond Substance Experiment
Line up 24 empty 1 dram remedy
bottles. Place one drop of Acetic
Acid
(pure white vinegar) in the first bottle, add 9 drops of distilled
water, and succuss 40 times. Take one drop from the first bottle and
place it in the second bottle. Add 9 drops of distilled water and
succuss 40 times. Repeat this process until you reach the 24th bottle,
at which time you have a 24X potency. A 24X dilution is the point at
which one reaches Avogadro's number, i.e., where there is not a single
molecule of the original vinegar in the dilution.
Next line up 3 empty vials. Pour pure white vinegar (Acetic Acid) in the first one, the 24X dilution remedy of vinegar in the second, and distilled water in the third vial. When pH indicator strips are placed in each of the vials, the pH readings are as follows:
Pure White Vinegar Pure White Vinegar (24X) Distilled Water
Initially: pH = 2.0 pH = 5.8 pH = 5.5
After 15 minutes: pH = 2.0 pH = 6.0 pH = 5.0
Now recall that pH is a measure of acidity and alkalinity. The lower the number, the more acidic the liquid being tested. The above readings indicate that the 24X dilution made from acetic acid has less acidity than distilled water! No chemist could have predicted this result beforehand. In fact, logical reasoning would lead one to assume that a dilution made from a strong acid would have more acid properties than pure water. But the remedy (for it is truly a remedy now) was not just diluted. It was potentized by serial dilutions and succussions. When substances, even inert ones such as silica, are homeopathically potentized, the normal rules of chemistry go out the window.
Acetic Acid is a homeopathic remedy. Just for fun let us see what the Materia Medica has to say about its symptom complex when healthy provers took it and what ailments for which it has been found to be useful clinically. The information goes on for several pages, so I will only note a few items.
"Aceticum Acidum
Next line up 3 empty vials. Pour pure white vinegar (Acetic Acid) in the first one, the 24X dilution remedy of vinegar in the second, and distilled water in the third vial. When pH indicator strips are placed in each of the vials, the pH readings are as follows:
Pure White Vinegar Pure White Vinegar (24X) Distilled Water
Initially: pH = 2.0 pH = 5.8 pH = 5.5
After 15 minutes: pH = 2.0 pH = 6.0 pH = 5.0
Now recall that pH is a measure of acidity and alkalinity. The lower the number, the more acidic the liquid being tested. The above readings indicate that the 24X dilution made from acetic acid has less acidity than distilled water! No chemist could have predicted this result beforehand. In fact, logical reasoning would lead one to assume that a dilution made from a strong acid would have more acid properties than pure water. But the remedy (for it is truly a remedy now) was not just diluted. It was potentized by serial dilutions and succussions. When substances, even inert ones such as silica, are homeopathically potentized, the normal rules of chemistry go out the window.
Acetic Acid is a homeopathic remedy. Just for fun let us see what the Materia Medica has to say about its symptom complex when healthy provers took it and what ailments for which it has been found to be useful clinically. The information goes on for several pages, so I will only note a few items.
"Aceticum Acidum
This
drug produces a condition of profound anaemia, with some dropsical
symptoms, great debility, frequent fainting, dyspnoea, weak heart,
vomiting, profuse urination and sweat. Haemorrhage from any part.
Acet-ac. has the power to liquefy albuminous and fibrinous
deposits. Epithelial cancer, internally and locally. Emaciation, esp. of face, hands
and thighs.
Great prostration: after injuries; after surgical shock; after
anaesthetics. General: worse for cold drinks; lie like a load on the
stomach. Haemorrhages
after labour. Oedema of feet and legs; with diarrhoea.
Intellect clouded, can hardly express herself..."
(Frans Vermeulen, Concordant Materia Medica, 3rd. ed., 2000).
(Frans Vermeulen, Concordant Materia Medica, 3rd. ed., 2000).