Hi All & Happy New Year,

Noted with interest Gina's statement below, which is in line with much of what I've read & which seems reasonable enough to me.

"...each time you take the 'same' remedy with the same potency it is almost somewhat useless,better to succuss each time to bump'up' the potency with each sip of remedy (if its disolved in water that is)."

However, many of the books I have (admittedly for the layperson) often recommend taking a remedy in the same potency for, say, a couple of weeks. Eg Miranda Castro's "Complete Homeopathy Handbook" includes under the doseage chart for symptoms needing longer term treatment "6x or 6c, one dose 3 times a day for up to 10 days", and Dr Andrew Lockie's "Encylopedia of Homeopathy" includes, in the self help section at the back, dosage recommendations such as "Phosphorus 30c, twice daily up to 14 days" or "Baryta carb, 6c twice daily up to 3 weeks".

Does the difference lie in whether the prescription is for an acute or chronic condition? Or is this simply hoping for the best achievable on the assumption that many people trying homeopathy for the first time would be put off by having to dissolve a remedy in water then succuss before each dose?

Hmmm... I'm confused. I'm now under the care of my second classical homeopath and, although most of my prescriptions have involved taking LM remedies (succussing in between doses) or, for example, 1M Nat Mur then waiting for weeks to see what happens, a few of the prescriptions have been more in line with the above method of dosing. Eg Carduus Marianus MT, 5 drops in water, 3 times a day for 4 weeks, or chelidonium 12C 3 times a day for 3 weeks, Nux vom 30c 3 times a day for 10 days (to continue unless a reaction occurs, then to review). Obviously the practitioner could have asked me to succuss the remedy in between doses (as I was quite happy to do this with other remedies), but has chosen not to, I assume depending upon what was presenting at the time.

Can anyone give me any more info on this? Or point me in the right direction for further reading? I am of course, a patient and an interested layperson, rather than a homeopath, but I'd really like to understand.

My experience is that the remedies will continue to act in the same potency for several doses. How many is not known ahead of time. Sometimes, especially with higher potencies, it's only two. With the lowest potencies, it could be many, many doses. What I notice is that as the potency begins to loose it's viability, it acts for a shorter time. So, e.g., someone is taking a 1M and the first dose lasts two months, the second dose lasts two months, the third dose lasts six weeks, the fourth dose lasts a month, the fifth dose lasts two weeks. I know then that it's time to up the potency. This is mainly for chronic cases. For acutes, it's more likely that the symptoms change and indicate a different remedy before the potency looses it's action. As I said, this is based on my experience only, not what Hahnemann or anyone else has said. Others may have a different take on it.

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Shirley Reischman

hello to all
this is what seems to work with my'patients',the method of succusion.starting at the lowest and carefully going 'up' in potency by succusing each sip taken.
and taking a journal of each occurance in symptoms. (i mean the patient writing a journal)
this way one can determine what is working or not.
aprox 52,000 possibilities are available to the homeopath when it comes to prescribing a proper remedy,and via precise counted succusions this amount can increase in possibilities.One must find the direct vibrational reasonance that is in unity with patient/hom.rem.
do what you want,as i do may not work for any one else.
your homeopath must have a reason for doing it as mentioned.
to find not only the correct remedy is a miracle but to find the correct 'note' that matches your 'note' (like notes in music,going up the scale) is another miracle.What matters is that you get feeling better..................

gina tyler

Sounds a bit hitty-missy, although do appreciate that the practitioner's own experience is invaluable in this. My own experience is that the remedies do continue to have an effect for a while, although generally peter out after a couple of weeks.

One of the reasons I'm querying is that, although I have seen some progress in my psychological state since starting with homeopathic treatment, my physical problems stubbornly refuse to budge. I.e on the physical level I'm NOT feeling better. Can't help but wonder whether this may be because otherwise appropriately selected remedies might just not be in the right (increasing) potency. Of course, it could be that they just "missed" altogether, but it sounds as though it could be difficult to know the difference.

Sounds like I'm now chasing TWO miracles. I guess time will tell.

The opinions are divided,and this is one area where each doctor has his own method,based on his experience,and the results he gets.

There is no hard and fast rule.But,what I observed is that 'three doses...wait...review after three weeks..' method is perhaps a better way.This applies only to chronic problems.

For acute problems,as Hannemann himself says,you may have to repeat the remedy even after a few minutes depending on the case.In acute cases,the symtoms keep on changing,and you may have to intervene with a new remedy frequently.

Read Vithoulkus's "Science of homeopathy."

He says to kickstart the cure,sometimes it is necessary to give the medicine in lower potencies say like 6c,daily for about a month.But,once reaction is established,you may have to settle for the three weeks waiting routine.

Murthy

Thank you. This is useful for me.

I did read Vithoulkas' book, a while ago now, and found it really interesting - lots about resonance and some follow up charts at the back which helped to clarify. Not sure whether I personally fitted into any of the categories he referred to and suspect I'm a more complex case. Can't really tell whether I'm incurable or not, though - I do seem to respond well to remedies on an emotional/psychological level, but the response always seems to bypass my worst physical problems (polycystic liver and kidneys). Perhaps the pathology is too entrenched.

However, it does seem to me that, for the remedies taken daily, it might be a good idea to increase the potency between doses as this would increase the possiblility of hitting just the right "note". Also, I think that after a couple of weeks my body simply gets used to a particular potency and stubbornly refuses to respond any more. I guess this is something to query with my homeopath.

Jennilee

Did you ever try plussing method?It is the best for people like you.It increases the potency,very slightly,at each dose.

The procedure is very simple.Take 500 ml.water bottle,fill it half,add a few drops or 4 to 5 pellets of the medicine,shake vigorously,and take a dose.Next time,which probably is the next day,shake the bottle again vigorously,about ten times and take a sip.Continue to do so before each sip.

Once the level goes down to half the original quantity,add more water,and make up to again to half of the bottle.Don't add any medicine now.Continue the same procedure.

To preserve the water,add a few drops of alcohol.This way,we are changing the potency at every dose(Succussion/shaking does it),and you will have better response than taking the same potency,over a length of time.

Try google search,'plussing homeopathy'.

There are many variations of plussing method,and the above is the most simplest.

Murthy

Many thanks. I've only tried this with LM remedies but it seems logical that the same method should work with C potencies. I might, after discussing with my homeopath, try this when I feel that the remedy is no longer acting.

Interesting. I think I need to do as much as possible to maximise the chances of this working as my liver disease in particular is becoming very difficult to live with.

yes this can be done to access a more complete/direct potency for 'you'.
wonderfull suggestion.

gina tyler

Yes. Thank you for all your help. I'll let you know how I get on over the next few months. It's been a long haul so far but at least with homeopathy I feel that possibilities are opening up for me and there is some progress (not something I've ever felt with my nephrologist or the liver surgeon).