The Alphabet of Homeopathic Potency
Understanding the Paradox of "Less is More"
By Douglas Brown, CCH, FNP, RSHom(NA)
Perhaps you have wondered what the letter after the number on your homeopathic remedy vial or packet indicates. The strength of most conventional medications is measured out in milligrams; of some vitamins and minerals in International Units (IUs) or micrograms. What does 200C, 10M, or 20X signify?
It's simple. X means that a substance is diluted in a ratio of 1:10. C means that a substance is diluted in a ratio of 1:100. The number preceding the letter indicates the number of times a substance has been both diluted and agitated (the homeopathic word is succussed).
Let's go to an example. Suppose that after a consultation I give you a moderately high potency of a remedy, a 200C. Let's say the remedy is Pulsatilla. To make a 200C, the homeopathic pharmacy takes one drop of the herbal tincture (called a mother tincture) and mixes it with 100 drops of water (actually at 20% solution of ethyl alcohol; the alcohol acts as a preservative). The resulting dilution is succussed, producing a 1C potency. Then the cycle is repeated mixing one drop of the 1C with 100 drops of the solution, which, after being succussed, yields a 2C potency. After 200 cycles of dilution and succussion a 200C solution is produced, which can be dropped onto milk sugar pellets which I then hand to you.
What's an M potency? M is the Roman numeral for 1,000, so a 1M means the cycle has been repeated 1000 times. Similarly, 10M yields a high potency where the dilution and sucussion process has been repeated 10,000 times. Frequently prescribed remedies can be obtained in potencies as high as 50M and CM (diluted and sucussed at a 1:100 ratio 50,000 and 100,000 times over, respectively).
How can it be that the more a substance is diluted, the stronger, or more potent, it becomes? Isn't it a paradox that the highest potencies have the least amount of the original substance? This paradox resolves when we understand that a remedy acts not as a chemical or material factor, but rather as an informational field. Through a process that we are just beginning to be understand, the repetitive dilution and succussion impart a patterning to the molecules of the diluent. The pattern varies depending upon the nature of the substance to which it is exposed, and apparently carries information related to the nature of that substance. The more the solution is diluted and sucussed, the more the pattern becomes coherent, intense and detailed.
Consider this analogy: A slide projector sitting a certain distance from a screen. As we move the projector further and further away from the screen, the image becomes larger, and we are able to perceive more details. The image is like the remedy. There is no substance to it; but consider how powerful a picture can be! The saying "A picture is worth a thousand words" points to the rich, informational quality of imagery. When the vital force of an organism is presented with the information conveyed by an appropriately selected image, it is able to use that information to propel itself back to a position of health and balance. A remedy is like a roadmap which illustrates exactly how the organism traveled off its intended course. Now that it has this information, it can turn around and retrace its steps.
There are a number of factors which are considered when deciding upon the potency that's most appropriate. I'll discuss these in a future article...
Doug Brown, CCH, FNP, RSHom is a graduate of Yale University School of Nursing and the Hahnemann College of Homeopathy. He became a homeopath when after 11 years of working with conventional medicine as a Family Nurse Practitioner he remained dissatisfied with its failure to cure chronic disease and with its fragmentation of care. He treats children and adults in Portland, OR, and Walla Walla, WA, and can be reached at (503) 253-6334, or by email at [email protected]
By Douglas Brown, CCH, FNP, RSHom(NA)
Perhaps you have wondered what the letter after the number on your homeopathic remedy vial or packet indicates. The strength of most conventional medications is measured out in milligrams; of some vitamins and minerals in International Units (IUs) or micrograms. What does 200C, 10M, or 20X signify?
It's simple. X means that a substance is diluted in a ratio of 1:10. C means that a substance is diluted in a ratio of 1:100. The number preceding the letter indicates the number of times a substance has been both diluted and agitated (the homeopathic word is succussed).
Let's go to an example. Suppose that after a consultation I give you a moderately high potency of a remedy, a 200C. Let's say the remedy is Pulsatilla. To make a 200C, the homeopathic pharmacy takes one drop of the herbal tincture (called a mother tincture) and mixes it with 100 drops of water (actually at 20% solution of ethyl alcohol; the alcohol acts as a preservative). The resulting dilution is succussed, producing a 1C potency. Then the cycle is repeated mixing one drop of the 1C with 100 drops of the solution, which, after being succussed, yields a 2C potency. After 200 cycles of dilution and succussion a 200C solution is produced, which can be dropped onto milk sugar pellets which I then hand to you.
What's an M potency? M is the Roman numeral for 1,000, so a 1M means the cycle has been repeated 1000 times. Similarly, 10M yields a high potency where the dilution and sucussion process has been repeated 10,000 times. Frequently prescribed remedies can be obtained in potencies as high as 50M and CM (diluted and sucussed at a 1:100 ratio 50,000 and 100,000 times over, respectively).
How can it be that the more a substance is diluted, the stronger, or more potent, it becomes? Isn't it a paradox that the highest potencies have the least amount of the original substance? This paradox resolves when we understand that a remedy acts not as a chemical or material factor, but rather as an informational field. Through a process that we are just beginning to be understand, the repetitive dilution and succussion impart a patterning to the molecules of the diluent. The pattern varies depending upon the nature of the substance to which it is exposed, and apparently carries information related to the nature of that substance. The more the solution is diluted and sucussed, the more the pattern becomes coherent, intense and detailed.
Consider this analogy: A slide projector sitting a certain distance from a screen. As we move the projector further and further away from the screen, the image becomes larger, and we are able to perceive more details. The image is like the remedy. There is no substance to it; but consider how powerful a picture can be! The saying "A picture is worth a thousand words" points to the rich, informational quality of imagery. When the vital force of an organism is presented with the information conveyed by an appropriately selected image, it is able to use that information to propel itself back to a position of health and balance. A remedy is like a roadmap which illustrates exactly how the organism traveled off its intended course. Now that it has this information, it can turn around and retrace its steps.
There are a number of factors which are considered when deciding upon the potency that's most appropriate. I'll discuss these in a future article...
Doug Brown, CCH, FNP, RSHom is a graduate of Yale University School of Nursing and the Hahnemann College of Homeopathy. He became a homeopath when after 11 years of working with conventional medicine as a Family Nurse Practitioner he remained dissatisfied with its failure to cure chronic disease and with its fragmentation of care. He treats children and adults in Portland, OR, and Walla Walla, WA, and can be reached at (503) 253-6334, or by email at [email protected]
Doug Brown, Homeopathic Healing, 833 S.W. 11th Avenue, Suite 216, Portland, Oregon 97205
© Douglas Brown, Homeopathic Healing • 503-253-6334 • [email protected]
© Douglas Brown, Homeopathic Healing • 503-253-6334 • [email protected]