Hi Felix,

"It's a good idea, Chris, but unfortunately we are so trained in using C potencies that's all most of the students feel comfortable with. Did you learn how to use the LM's at school, or did you teach yourself? I'd be happy to do that, but it would involve other people's health."

The practice of homoeopathy always involves someone else’s health, whether you are using Centesimals or LM’s. I know, stating the obvious. The bit of paper you get at the end of formal studies means you have attained a certain level of education. That’s all. The only way you can understand how the art and science of homoeopathy works is through experience with patients and lifelong study and observation. Nobody is an expert, being a practitioner means we ‘practise’ homoeopathy, more experience allows you to get better at practising. I recently had the opportunity to review a critique of one of Hahnemann’s last cases he worked on before his death. Madame Heoguart (DF-11, p.349). At different times over the months of treatment Hahnemann administered Centesimals, LM’s and another mysterious potency, and at one stage he used Cocculus 30C which turned out to be the wrong remedy and totally mucks up the case for a while. So you see even if by the end of your career you make the occasional mistake in prescribing, cause some upset, you will still be in distinguished company! If you are comfortable using Centesimals, stick with them. If you are comfortable practicing according to the 4th edition Organon dry dose, stick with that, but read the later and lesser writings of Kent where, towards the end of his career, he advised caution with regard to the high and strong doses. If you seek more flexibility with case management and posology study the 5th and 6th editions of the Organon, in particular the case management procedures for LM remedies in aphorisms 245 – 263, and the administration of medicine aphorisms 272 – 285. I learned next to nothing about LM’s at my college. Vithoulkas was the popular homoeopath then and we were supposed to find the one grand constitutional essence for the person, so case management wasn’t a big priority because the one essence remedy was supposed to cure everything. But that was then, and this is now. There’s a lot of information available, ’50 Millesimal Potency in Theory and Practice’ by Dr. Harimohan Choudhary is a good place to start. David Little’s site www.simillimum.com has an abundance of information and I expect his soon to be published Homoeopathic Compendium will become a standard text.

"Also, when you have to use a nosode, say, do you use LM's or a centesimal? If Kent said not to use a nosode under 200c (unless it was Tub Av or Bacc), what is the equivalent LM? Seeing it's a new remedy, do you go back to LM1?
(Tell me if this is in the Organon or 50 mill potencies, so I don't keep bugging you)"

You can use nosodes either in LM or Centesimal potency. I'd start with LM 1. The very nature of nosodes makes them heroic in action and they must be treated with the greatest respect as to repetition. There are some good case examples in Choudhary’s book pp56-57, and I’ve read other successful examples in the simillimum classroom. I’m not sure why Kent advised as he did. Be aware that Kent’s aggravations may have had something to do with giving several pills in the one dose. He believed it didn’t matter if you gave one pill or several in the one dose. But it does matter when the patient has a high degree of sensitivity, if you are using a heroic medicine and if there is a significant degree of pathology. Before the administration of a nosode the vital organs and eliminatory channels of the patient must be assessed. If the vital organs are compromised by organic pathology and the channels of elimination are blocked, don’t use nosodes. A good friend of mine was given Tuberculinum by his homoeopath recently and his heartrate fell dangerously low. He has a history of valvular heart disease. If you look in Boericke p658 way down the bottom, “The remedy should not be given without a most careful cardiac examination.” All these bits of advice are written by homoeopaths who have had specific experiences with specific patients. You can’t afford to take shortcuts in casetaking.

Regards,
Chris