At 03:07 PM 4/4/2006, you wrote:
>While reading as much info as possible on LM potencies, I have come across
>differing views as to the strength of them. I have read that the LM1
>potency is a relatively high potency equivalent to a 200c but gentler;
>elsewhere I have read that the LM1 shares the qualities of 30c and 6c,
>working as gently as a 6c but with the depth of a 30c. I have also come
>across differing views of the LM's use for sensitive people, with some
>saying to start off with the low C's for sensitives and then move across
>to the LM1 and others saying the LM's are better than the C scale for
>sensitives.
>
>If homeopaths on the list had time to share their experience with regards
>to the LM potency in comparison to the C scale and its use for sensitives,
>I would be grateful for the input.
>
>Many thanks
>Kerry

Dear Kerry,

I have used the LM potency for around 20 years so I will share some of
my experience. First of all, it is a bit hard to make up exact
equivalencies between the two scaled mathematically. This is quite
misleading because the medicinal qualities of the C and LM potency are
different. In my opinion they are complimentary opposites that greatly
expand our therapeutic horizons. Why? That is because some persons do
better on the Cs and some on the LMs and some of both at different times.

If you look at the numbers related to the amount of original substance
that remains in the LM 0/1 it is about the same as the 6c. Nevertheless, I
find the remedial powers of the 0/1 much, much stronger than the 6c. In my
opinion I would say that they have a depth and duration of the 0/1 is
greater than the 30c. Boenninghausen felt that the LM potency was quite
similar to the higher potencies in its actions. So I don't think one should
consider the LM 0/1 a low potency. I don't think the LM 0/1 is as gentle as
the 6c! Hahnemann considered them to be a more high powered scale than the
6c to 30c due to their 1/50, 000 dilution ratio with 100s succussions.

I believe the "depth" of the LM potency is similar to the higher Cs
like the 100th or 200th but their medicinal powers are quite different. The
200c is rather quick acting and aggressive and prone to early aggravation.
I find these qualities very similar to trauma, acute miasms and the
functional stages of chronic diseases with a quick onset. I don't find the
200c gentle in slowly developing chronic diseases or severe organic
pathology. The LM potency comes on like a wave rather than one forceful
blast like the 200c.

All things the same I might say the LM potency has the depth of the
very high potencies although perhaps not the duration. This said I have
quite a few single dose LM cures even with 0/1 in very chronic states. I
also have had a single dose act for months and years! So don't count out
this possibility. As Hahnemann said in the 6th Organon - any noticeably
progression and strikingly increasing amelioration is sign to not repeat
the dose as long as this state lasts! The better your prescriptions the
more this will happen. I have a single doses out there acting for 5 years,
3 years, 1 year, 8 months, etc. Of course it is more common for a patient
to need the remedy every 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 days. Normally, however, I
don't need the repeat the remedy daily for very long before I begin to slow
down the remedy as the patient improves.

Hahnemann speaks of starting the LM potency in the lowest degrees and
his casebooks show that this could be between 0/1, 0/2, 0/3, 0/4, 0/5, 0/6
or so. He did not start every case with the 0/1! This offers a great range
of possible potencies. Again I can not give exact equivalencies but I would
say that the 0/1 to 0/3 are link moving up to the 200th and 1M and the 0/4,
0/5 and 0/6 is going to the 5M or 10M. Sometimes, the 0/1 is not a high
enough potency. Nevertheless, most chronic cases start between 0/1 and 0/3.
Some may need a higher potency. The use of the 0/4 to 0/6 is more common in
crisis and acute diseases.

Now as to the sensitivity question. Hahnemann stated that sensitivity
can vary in a ratio from 1 to 1000. Sensitivity is the most important
factor in potency selection followed by the stage of the diseases and
vitality of the patient. This means that a potency that a number 1
sensitivity can not even feel will send the 1000 into a state of serious
aggravation. This is why individualization is important in potency selection.

I personal like to start those that have the1000 sensitivity out on
the 6c then 12c and work them up to the 30c. I am careful not to repeat the
remedy to often even in these low potencies! There are cases where the
single dose of a 6c can produce long aggravations. Many of these persons
are too sensitive for the LM 0/1 even if you dilute the remedy through a
series of dilution glasses. Sometimes I work them up to the 30c and then
switch them to the LM potency rather than jumping to the 200c.

Those that are sensitive 750-800 on the sensitivity scale but do not
have serious pathology in vital organs and compromised organs of
elimination can tolerate the LM 0/1 but on must be careful not to repeat
the remedy too much to quickly. They sometimes do best if the remedy is
diluted in a second or third glass etc. Sometimes the most gentle
olfaction of a single dose is all they need! Hahnemann often use this
method in the 1840s. Patient of a more moderate sensitivity like 400 to 700
can easily take the LM 0/1 or perhaps the 0/2. Nevertheless, many can not
take the daily dose or it will aggravate. Some of the more hypo-sensitive
types like the 1 to 300s might need the higher potencies like 03 or even
0/4 but again don't always try to give them daily in some mechanical
fashion! IMO, giving the daily dose in a mechanical fashion is the biggest
mistake one can make with the LM potencies.

The Paris casebooks from the 1840s show that Hahnemann that would often
give either give a single dose (often but not always) by olfaction followed
by 7 days of placebo or sort series of 3 to 7 doses over a week. Some
patients got a dose every 3 days, etc. Then he would have the patient
return in around 7 days and he would reassess the case. At this time, he
would either give another single dose or another series of oral doses or
give them a series of placebos depending on the symptoms, time and
circumstances. This "on again - off again" method is found in the greatest
majority of his cases. I have not seen 1 single cases where Hahnemann gave
the daily dose for months on end without stopping the remedy and giving
placebos. In many cases Hahnemann gave almost as much placebo as medicine!

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions.
Sincerely, David Little

PS, Please excuse an typographic error, etc., I don't really have time to
go over this carefully.



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