I recently saw a homeopathic Dr. for the 1st time. I was given a remedy & approx. 20 minutes later had a sudden aggravation (on the way home) that took me by surprise! I was under the assumption that aggravations started from the top & the most recent symptom being the first to show aggravation.? My first reaction was in my finger an arthritic joint pain that I hadn't had for quite some time. Achy joints were a minor complaint of mine, I was curious as to why this would have been the 1st aggravation, as my more serious problem was a rash on the face & neck!? How long do the aggravations usually last & how long do they continue after 1st dose? I was prescribed Lachesis 200c 2X. Also, I had a "hot-flash" that I never had before in my life!!?? Could this be a reaction to the wrong remedy? Any input here would be greatly appreciated!!

Annie,

Gauging the meaning of aggravations can be difficult business that is not always well understood. Some homeopaths take any aggravation to mean that the remedy was the correct choice and that it is working. I know from experience, however, that some aggravations are bad and mean the opposite. In your case, it could be too soon to tell what is going on so you may want to wait a bit. I would suggest not taking that second dose just yet. If you continue to have troubling aggravations that are unrelated to the complaints you are treating, you may want to consider antidoting the Lachesis and looking for another more suitable remedy.

Dear Annie7,
The subject of aggravations is quite involved and can easily fill a book. Since you saw a qualified homeopathic practitioner who is familiar with your case, your symptoms and the remedy given, I would suggest you call her/him immediately and ask this question.
This said, I would add that the body and it's reaction to the remedy is an individual thing, with an individual response. There are some predictions we can safely make, but in the end, the individual will respond to a remedy in an individual way. Everyone's sensitivity to remedies is different. Sometimes a little time is needed to accurately assess what exactly is taking place. Sometimes you will produce symptoms which you have not had before, but which can be produced by the action of the remedy. If this is seen as part of a general healing trend then we try to accomodate it. The potency or frequency of dose can be adjusted, for example.
At any rate, your homeopath needs to hear from you to judge accurately what is taking place.
hope this helps

Thanks Tomi & Os for your replys...my Dr. is not available over the weekend so I will wait & call Monday. ( I don't want the dr. to think I don't trust her abilities by asking too many questions!)I already took the second dose 2 days a go, haven't had any "out of the ordinary" aggrevations & have had a rash on my face on & off but not as bad as I've had it in the past, so I 'll take this as a good sign this is the right remedy?! I read somewhere after taking the remedy you should feel a sense of general well being, I did the first day & felt no energy the next day. Is there a book I could read that would give me a little more in sight on what to expect? I should probably just chill out Thanks again!!!

Try www.demistify.com and there is a small book online which explains things in a way that is quite easy to understand the basics .
Hope this helps.
Lisa

Annie,

Please don't hesitate to ask your practitioner questions or voice your concerns about your treatment. As Os said, aggravations ARE an individual matter that need to be assessed within the context of the whole picture. However, there are a few things here that may be cause for concern. The dis-similar aggravations reported in your first post combined with the fluctuating energy level and rash could be an indication that Lachesis is not the simillimum. It also sounds like you are sensitive and should be cautious about going up in potency with this rem unless you are certain it's the correct prescription.

It's important to keep in mind that ALL of the remedies can stimulate the vital force and, if they are close enough to the simillimum, may bring about some degree of healing or at least the appearance of healing. But the wrong rems can also create symptoms and can mis-tune the vital force of sensitive individuals, especially if given in high potencies over a long period of time.

Here is a link to David Little's discussion on aggravations: http://www.simillimum.com/Thelittlel...nage/aggr.html

[ 29 April 2001: Message edited by: Tomi ]

Dear Tomi,

Thanks for the link. I hope everyone reads it.
Snoopy

It is the usual practice in the first consultation for a homoeopath to write down a timeline or history of life-events which have made an impact on the mental/emotional and physical states of the patient. After the administration of the first remedy this timeline as well as other observations are used to gauge the reaction of the person to the primary action of the remedy. The sensitivity of the patient is also determined regarding potency selection and the manner in which the remedy dosage may be repeated.
For the sake of brevity, I'd say there are four different aggravation responses which, if the practioner is adept at observing, will lead to a successful second prescription (if needed).
A SIMILAR aggravation is one where the symptoms that dominate the case are felt worse by the patient. It is the correct remedy but the aggravation is caused by too high a potency, too strong a dose, or repeating the dose too frequently. In your case, Anne, your rash would be noticeably worse initially, but you would also feel emotionally lighter, mentally clearer and have a spring in your step. After a short period of less than a week your rash would noticeably improve. If the improvement then stopped, the practitioner would know that Lachesis was the right remedy and would then repeat another dose unless the symptom picture had changed.

A DISSIMILAR aggravation is one where new and troublesome symptoms appear that were not there before. This suggests that the wrong remedy has been prescribed and fairly obviously the patient will feel worse. The case needs to be retaken and a new remedy found that covers the new state.

Accessory symptoms are also new and troublesome symptoms, but different from those above. They are additional symptoms of the remedy to which the patient acts like a prover. They are homeopathic to the remedy but not homoeopathic to the case. For example, Anne, your hot flash that you've never experienced before is a characteristic symptom of Lachesis. These additional symptoms should if not too bothersome pass off very quickly. If they persist it indicates to the practitioner that the remedy is only a partial similimum and has done all the good it's going to do. The case is retaken and a new remedy is found. In your case, Anne, Lachesis is pretty darn close to the centre of gravity of your case and will act curatively for a while.

A TRUE HEALING CRISIS occurs when old symptoms as revealed by the timeline reoccur according to the guidelines of Hering's Law. This does not necessarly mean that they will reoccur in a rigidly backward chronological order, but they will be thrown off by the Vital Force while constitutionally greater and stronger health is achieved.
For more detailed descriptions of aggravations I'd recommend a book which Snoopy already has on numerous occasions "Hahnemann Revisited" - Luc De Schepper and David Little's - The Little Library www.similimum.com

THANKS All for your input...I'll be reading for awhile then probably be back with more questions, oops, heres one already!!!...would thrush be a reaction to lachesis? Or to L-glutamine or acidophilus?? Dr. has me taking this too. I think I had a "thrushy like" mouth problem the 2nd day on lachesis & don't really remember having that feeling to "that extent" before!? Also, I'm still having itchy areas on & off on my face ( the main problem we are treating) would this be a good sign, as I have had this problem in the past (allergic like reactions on my face).I'm also feeling more energetic now & yesterday was a good day too. I'll call my Dr. Monday! Thanks again for all your help! Annie

Dear Annie,

The fact that you're feeling more energetic
is all you really need to know. The right remedy, regardless of what else it might do,
should increase your energy and over-all sense of well-being. Beyond that, whether your rash gets worse or you get a proving symptom of Lachesis...it's all irrelevant, because your body will sort this all out. You only need to know that the remedy is correct and you're going to recover. No one can predict how your body will heal, what it will choose to get rid of first, and so on, but it doesn't matter. Just know that things are looking very good right now.

Snoopy