i was told to take the 200c at first sign of my symptom and then the 30c afterwards until the symptom cleared up. after the initial treatment of my ailment (cold sores) a few years ago, they have drastically been reduced in both frequency and severity when the symptoms do arise. is it really that uncommon to suggest a homeopathic remedy in case of repeated flare-ups?

Dear Members
~There seems to be a lot of confusion on the dosology issue. Instead of guessing, one should first investigate the original writings.
Instrumental for the application of the C-potency scale are Hahnemann’s 5th Organon as well as the later refinements he published in the second edition of the Chronic diseases.
Kent passed on some valuable experiences as well as Boenninghausen for the use of higher attenuations.

So much can be said in passing; —none of the above is accurate, and the advice of this homeopath does not reflect the knowledge of the basic rules and principles.

I used to be in the habit of explaining these things on the board, but feel nowadays, that anyone seriously interested in this issue can read it up independantly.

[ 24. March 2004, 19:42: Message edited by: Hans Weitbrecht ]

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Hans Weitbrecht
Consultant Homeopath

you lost me hans, you say 'none of the above is accurate'. there are two opinions stated, one that it's ok to use multiple dosages and the other group saying that it's not. so certainly one of the above is accurate, no?

you're certainly not obliged to help, and i appreciate any insight, but i'm not a homeopath, i'm a patient, so i was merely asking for my own sake. hence, your final declaration just makes me feel that you only came on here to tell everyone they were wrong, without actually being of any help.

I think your questions and the newly raised questions might best be answered by your homeopath whom you obviously have a repoire with.

Its quite different to take a bunch of different remedies at once vs take many different remedies for different complaints as the case progresses. I don't think its entirely clear in your case.

I do however feel that the potency is an issue. As Hans has said it requires a lot of study (5th & 6th organon, Kent, Boenninghausen etc) and understanding, that I constantly seek advice about myself, so I'll leave it at that.

I'm sorry I'm not much help, I know how frustrating it can be to seek a simple answer to a seemingly simple question, but it really is much more complicated than that.

Here's the real question:

Was Natrum Muriaticum prescribed as a constitutional treatment, and was it a successful prescription, way back when the case was originally taken?

I have a feeling that Nat Mur was a remedy prescribed constitutionally for this patient in the past, and that the remedy worked very, very well for her. It certainly is a good remedy for many patients who suffer from cold sores, though it is not an exclusive remedy for that ailment.

Now, some of the older symptoms have come back in the case. The Natrum Muriaticum is being used in a way I've seen many Indian prescribers suggest--a lower potency of the curative constitutional remedy, if it applies, used to treat these symptoms as they arise, if need be.

This is done for several reasons:
1. To palliate what could be very painful symptoms

2. To redose with the curative remedy, using the newly arising symptom as a sign that a moderate dose of the remedy is needed.

3. To keep patients from suppressing the symptom using allopathic drugs.


If cold sores suddenly make an appearance after many years of benefit from a constitutional remedy prescription like Nat Mur, and the patient is beseiged by them (this can and does happen to patients who are susceptible to them, particularly when under a great deal of stress, for example) then it is a good indicator that another dose of the remedy is required.

It's not an approach everyone would use (personally, I'd redose with the constitutional remedy if it still fit the case...and it seems like this one does...and leave it at that, perhaps putting the dose in water to split it so that the cure of that particular symptom would be speeded).

Incidentally, cscs, it is very possible (in fact, its what I bank on) that one remedy takes care of all possible symptoms. I never need to give more than one remedy at a time for any given patient, and I've never used more than one potency at a time. I can see what's being done with the Nat Mur, but I would never suggest a slew of remedies for a whole bunch of different complaints. In fact, all the symptoms you list above can be covered very well by Natrum Muriaticum.

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...and deliverance has many faces<br />but grace<br />is an aquaintance of mine

thanks for your help and input, kkrista and divina.

i suppose i complicated matters by asking two somewhat unrelated questions at the same time.

when i went to my homeopath for the very first time, it was for cold sores, she took my entire history and decided upon Nat-M. it helped tremendously to reduce the frequency of their occurence as well as their severity when they did arise. and as you note, divina, in the rare instances when i do get cold sores again, taking the Nat-M not only get's rid of the cold sore even quicker (it used to take 2 weeks, then 3 days after Nat-M, and now 2 days) i feel like it's very much reducing the symptoms. ie, a year after taking Nat-M, if i got a cold sore, it'd dry up in a day as opposed to 4 or 5, and then would heal up in another 2 days, but now, after taking Nat-M each time a cold sore pops up, i don't even see any cold sore 'bubbles', the little pus-like thing that used to take a week or so before it would dry up. anyways, lengthy description aside, i feel like it's helping to make future breakouts even less symptomatic. is it bad to use homeopathic remedies that way? i'm following directions, not self-medicating. i asked this question initially because i had a cold sore again, my homeopath suggested i take 200c and then 30c, but i didn't have 200c on hand at the time, so i was worried that it was bad to take 30c and then 200c and then 30c again.

during my most recent visit, i went in regards to a few seperate problems, and that is where the apis / graphities were recommended. the apis is for finger swelling in my right hand, and the graphities is for my reoccuring throat/tonsil issues, extremely flaky scalp (not dandruff), bad memory, and a few other issues. my homeopath suggested, after i called her, that i stop the apis until i finish the graphities.

i understand that it's possible to give one remedy at any one time, but is it typical for a patient to come in with say 5 to 6 different symptoms / problems? and in that case, would it still always be likely that you could cover all of the symptoms with one remedy?

thanks again everyone for your time and input.

Well, all I can say is I know your homeopath was not trained--in class or in clinical supervision--to practice in this way. But I do know her background is in conventional medicine, and sometimes it is very difficult for people with this type of background to understand the medical paradigm of homeopathy. It's okay to tell people that I referred you to this person, who was one of my classmates. I'd seen her work in a clinical environment before, so I'm rather surprised to learn about the change in prescribing methods at this point.

Every single patient comes in with an entire totality of symptoms and problems--it is always more than one thing that brings the patient in in every chronic case. In every case, I use only one remedy to treat all the individual problems presented and perceived in the case. As does every other homeopath. One patient, with one vital force, only needs one remedy.

Why? Because that is how homeopathy works.

Prescribing specific remedies for specific symptoms rarely ever works, unless you are treating an acute ailment. None of the symptoms you describe can be called "acute", even if you want to think about the appearance of cold sores an acute flare-up of a chronic disease (herpes simplex). I think Nat Mur covers all the symptoms very well, but if it has been used repeatedly and the symptoms return (truthfully, the herpes should have been cured...never to return again)...then perhaps you need a remedy that is very close to the Nat Mur, but not Nat Mur.

Here's a very clear booklet that details exactly how homeopathy is to be practiced--very handy for patients to know this, so they know what to expect from homeopathy:
www.demystify.com

Click on the "book online" link, and enjoy it. I'ts very quick and very clear. You'll understand everyone's reaction to your case far better after reading this booklet. Perhaps you could take your concerns to your homeopath afterwards and go from there.

[ 25. March 2004, 16:05: Message edited by: Divina ]

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...and deliverance has many faces<br />but grace<br />is an aquaintance of mine

hi HANS
on the issue if y suggest patient to see organon i think this puts some mark on the ability the quuestion is there to be replied with yr knowledge and experience leaving patient to become Homeopath is some thing which i feel is unjustified
y should give yr opinion on the subject and pls re read my post i hv not said that single remedy is not correct
if y wish i can quote more than 250 cases where same remedy in various potency was given and results were fantastic
so read organon dont recommend it to patients apply yr own mind and skill for a logic full answer
thankyou and regards

Why don't you go back and speak to your homeopath. If his/her treatment worked for you, is there some reason you want to find out if it was 'correct'. If it helped, it helped, what is the problem? I assume your homeopath is back now.
Therese

As a non professional who's been involved in the Alternative field for quite some time it just amazes me at the difference of opinion in a field that is supposed to be so precise...not that that differs from any other...it just makes it difficult. I know personally of a very good Homeopath in Canada that after finding your constitional remedy augments that with other remedies...yes uses them "allopathically" for other extraneous symptoms with the idea that WE ARE LIVING IN DIFFERENT TIMES THAN HANNEHMAN(?spelling).
Just a thought.

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Peace