§ 121

In proving medicines to ascertain their effects on the healthy body, it must be borne in mind that the strong, heroic substances, as they are termed, are liable even in small doses to produce changes in the health even of robust persons. Those of milder power must be given for these experiments in more considerable quantities; in order to observe the action of the very weakest, however, the subjects of experiment should be persons free from disease, and who are delicate, irritable and sensitive.


§ 123

Each of these medicines must be taken in a perfectly simple, unadulterated form; the indigenous plants in the form of freshly expressed juice, mixed with a little alcohol to prevent it spoiling; exotic vegetable substances, however, in the form of powder, or tincture prepared with alcohol when they were in the fresh state and afterwards mingled with a certain proportion of water; salts and gums, however, should be dissolved in water just before being taken. If the plant can only be procured in its dry state, and if its powers are naturally weak, in that case there may be used for the experiment an infusion of it, made by cutting the herb into small pieces and pouring boiling water on it, so as to extract its medicinal parts; immediately after its preparation it must be swallowed while still warm, as all expressed vegetable juices and all aqueous infusions of herbs, without the addition of spirit, pass rapidly into fermentation and decomposition, whereby all their medicinal properties are lost.


§ 128 Sixth Edition

The most recent observations have shown that medicinal substances, when taken in their crude state by the experimenter for the purpose of testing their peculiar effects, do not exhibit nearly the full amount of the powers that lie hidden in them which they do when they are taken for the same object in high dilutions potentized by proper trituration and succussion, by which simple operations the powers which in their crude state lay hidden, and, as it were, dormant, are developed and roused into activity to an incredible extent. In this manner we now find it best to investigate the medicinal powers even of such substances as are deemed weak, and the plan we adopt is to give to the experimenter, on an empty stomach, daily from four to six very small globules of the thirtieth potency of such a substance, moistened with a little water or dissolved in more or less water and thoroughly mixed, and let him continue this for several days.

Hello all,

I think there are some confusions in some para's of Hahnemann's Organon Of Medicine. The confusions appear in above mentioned para 121,123 & 128 are as under:-

Para 121; In proving medicines on healthy persons, milder power is suggested, must be given for these experiments in more considerable quantities.

Para 123; Some plants, salts & gums are suggested to be taken either in freshly expressed juice or in diluted form dissolved in some water.

Para 128; All the medical substances are suggested to be taken in thirtieth potency.

Is it not a confusion. Please discuss the same.

Best wishes.

__________________
Homeopathic & Biochemic system existed because Drs.Hahnemann & Schuessler thought differently.
Successful people don't do different things, they do things differently..S.Kh.

I can understand it is dificult to clear these confusions.

__________________
Homeopathic & Biochemic system existed because Drs.Hahnemann & Schuessler thought differently.
Successful people don't do different things, they do things differently..S.Kh.

Hello kv,

There is no confusion.
Aphorisms 121 and 123 are directions for the use and preparation of *unpotentized* substances in provings. Heroic substances need to be proven in different QUANTITIES in order to elicit their actions. Some heroic substances even in a small dose will alter the condition in a robust prover. Other heroic substances with milder power will need to be taken in considerably more quantity to get any effect. The provers themselves need to be people who are free of disease and who are also delicate, excitable and sensitive - in order for the effects to be perceived.

In Aphorism 128, Hahnemann presents the advantages of using *potentized* substances in provings in order to reveal their full hidden powers. He suggests 4 - 6 globules in 30C dissolved in water for several days.

Hello chrisg,

Thanks for explaining. It looks like that when we read these paras. But I think it was said previously, that all the symptoms/characterstics as mentioned in MM are taken from 30C potencies of remedies. What do you say if this is correct. If not correct, then how these symptoms/characterstics are taken?

[ 10. November 2003, 06:00: Message edited by: kayveeh ]

__________________
Homeopathic & Biochemic system existed because Drs.Hahnemann & Schuessler thought differently.
Successful people don't do different things, they do things differently..S.Kh.

The way I understand it, Hahnemann first developed his "law of similars", based on raw substances. Later, he developed his theory of potentialization. Thus, early provings were done with raw substance, whereas he later mostly or exclusively used potentialized.

Experiments were widened to potentialized versions of substances that have no effect in raw form, e.g. silica.

I see no contradictions in this since the two theories, law of similars, and potentialization, are not logically interdependent.

Hans

__________________
<i>You have a right to your own opinion, but not to your own facts.</i>

Mr.Hans,

Thus, early provings were done with raw substance, whereas he later mostly or exclusively used potentialized.

If early proving were done be raw substacs & later by potentialized then what was the need of mentioning App.121 & 123 in sixth edition. Furthur,if the symptoms/chracteristics mentioned in MM are of raw substances or of potentialized remedies. Is it not correct that the differant potencies & differant potencies of differant remedies will produce differant symptoms in healthy persons. Then how the symptoms of MM were standardized if raw & potentized remedies are used to find out the symptoms?

Experiments were widened to potentialized versions of substances that have no effect in raw form, e.g. silica.

It is no where mentioned in app.128, but 30th potency is common to all medical substances.

However, can we assume that proving were done in raw form & in potentized forms in consideration of the type & properties of raw substances i.e.Organic, inorganic, toxic, inert, heroic, radiations etc.

[ 10. November 2003, 08:02: Message edited by: kayveeh ]

__________________
Homeopathic & Biochemic system existed because Drs.Hahnemann & Schuessler thought differently.
Successful people don't do different things, they do things differently..S.Kh.

That's interesting statement and very truely said. :razz:

__________________
Imran Achkzai of marala

Hello senier homeopaths,

I felt that the following basic question is usually avoided/not replied. I couldn't understand the reasons. The question is as under:-

How the symptoms/chracteristics as mentiond in MMs of homeopathic remedies were taken? If raw remedy or potentised remedy were given to healthy persons to find out these symptoms?

I think this is the most basic question which every homeopath might have studied & so should be able to give the awnser.

[ 12. November 2003, 10:12: Message edited by: kayveeh ]

__________________
Homeopathic & Biochemic system existed because Drs.Hahnemann & Schuessler thought differently.
Successful people don't do different things, they do things differently..S.Kh.

A symptom which was quite clear and observed in most of the provers can be taken as specific. I don't have the answer.

__________________
Imran Achkzai of marala

Thanks, but by giving which potency?

__________________
Homeopathic & Biochemic system existed because Drs.Hahnemann & Schuessler thought differently.
Successful people don't do different things, they do things differently..S.Kh.