Hahnemann developed the LM scale of dilution because he was concerned that homeopaths were experimenting with higher and higher dilutions in the C-scale. He felt that these higher dilutions would produce too severe aggravations and, as we know, he was always searching for the highest ideal of a cure (to restore health rapidly, gently, permanently...in the shortest, surest, least harmful way- aph. 2). The result was the change of the dilution ratio from 1:100 to 1:50,000, which Hahnemann considered to be the most perfect.

The remedy is triturated to 3c because this is the point that all substances become soluable in water, even the metals. One grain of the triturated powder (0.6g)is dissolved in 500 drops of water and alcohol (40% water). This gives a dilution ratio of 1:500.

One drop of the 1:500 dilution is added to a further 99 drops of water and alcohol to give a dilution ratio of 1:50,000 (1 in 500 x 100 = 50,000). This solution is succussed 100 times to produce the LM/1 medicating potency.

One drop of the LM/1 potency is poured onto 500 poppy seed granules, each granule absorbing one 500th of a drop. These granules are put into a bottle and marked LM/1. One of these is disolved in a bottle of water and alcohol and given to the patient to use as directed.

To make the LM/2 potency, one poppy seed granule (having absorbed one 500th of a drop of the LM/1 potency) is added to a further 99 drops of water and alcohol and succussed 100 times. This solution therefore contains 1/500th of the LM/1 potency x 100 = 1/50,000. This is the liquid potency used to medicate poppy seed granules for LM/2.

The process is continued in this way to make LM/3 - LM/30, using the granule to transfer 1/500th of a drop. The granule is used instead of a whole drop (as in the C-scale) because adding one drop to 50,000 drops would mean having to succuss nearly 2 litres of liquid!

The indicated remedy is chosen on the same principles as with the C-scale. Treatment is usually starts somewhere between LM/1 and LM/6 depending on the vitality of the patient, and is continued without jumping in potency (LM/1 is always followed by LM/2, LM/6 by LM/7, etc.).

Hahnemann seems to have intended that the LM scale replace the C-scale altogether. However, the 6th edition of the Organon, which contained the instructions for the LM scale, remained unpublished for many years after his death. By the time it was published the C-scale had been firmly established, mainly by Kent, who never saw the 6th edition.

Practitioners today seem to prefer the C-scale because: 1)This is the scale they have been taught to use and are most comfortable with. 2) They cannot afford to replace their entire remedy stock with LM potencies. 3) They feel that the instructions on how to take LM's are complicated for the patient to follow and that patients prefer to take their medicines in the form of a pill.

LM's can be prescibed for any patient and are effective in both acute and chronic situations. Hahnemann seemed to believe that they brought about cure more quickly than the C-scale. This is because with the C-scale you generally wait for the patient to start to relapse before repeating the remedy. With LM's the remedy is repeated two or three times each day until the patient has been symptom-free for some time, begins to prove the remedy or shows signs of aggravation.

Advantages of the LM scale:

1) The main advantage in using the LM potencies is that aggravations can usually be avoided. If an aggravation does occur, it is usually mild copmared to the C-scale. If we view the patient's susceptibilty as a vessel, aggravation occurs when the vessel is full and the liquid flows over the sides. With the C-scale you are trying to work out if the vessel is roughly a 6, 12, 30, 200, 1M, 10M or CM in size so that you can pour in enough remedy to fill it. Cure does not take place until susceptibility is satisfied so aggravations are almost inevitable with the C-scale (the difference between a 1M and 10M is 9000 dilutions and 90,000 succussions). With the LM scale the remedy is dripped in drop by drop until the vessel is full and susceptibility is satisfied, hopefully without too much spillage.

This makes the LM scale very useful in treating skin diseases, difficult and serious chronic cases and various acute diseases. In fact, any situation where an aggravation will cause increased suffering or endanger the life of the patient.

2)The remedy is never repeated in the same potency. As the patient's vitality increases, the remedy is succussed and potency increased to match it. This can be adjusted by the patient until they find the rate of increase that is most suited their own curative process.

3) The practitioner can tell whether the remedy is correct within 4-7 days because the patient should begin to feel relief after a few doses of the medicine.

..........................

The principle behind the LM scale seems to be that the high degree of dilution reduces the duration and intensity of the remedy's action, while the high number of succussions raises it's dynamic strength. The result is a very gentle, but deep acting potency that can be repeated wthout risk of severe aggravation. If aggravation should occur it is usually of short duration and easily controlled.

This LM potencies are especially effective in treating cases of long-standing suppression, mental illness, in the primary stages of psora, syphilis and sycosis (where Hahnemann advocated repeated administration of the remedy) and in palliation of incurable cases without fear of aggravation. In the last instance, if correctly selected, the LM potencies may even bring about a curative response in apparently hopeless cases because of the depth and gentleness of their action.




[This message has been edited by Rubric (edited 22 April 1999).]