Potency selection . . . Excerpts from Pioneers
 
- Dr. S.Senthil Mohan
   
     Though Hahnemann said in aphorism 278 - pure experiment , careful observation of the sensitiveness of the patient and accurate experience can alone determine the dose in each individual case - the following are certain ways for the easy selection of the potency.
 
  • First assess the susceptibility and you can easily select the potency.

  • Use Jahr's concept(Stuart close) - higher the similarity between drug and the disease - higher the susceptibility - higher the potency. This is nothing but the modified form of Hahnemann's aphorism No.277.

    • For Centesimal potencies, use Jahr's concept and for repetition -don't be in a hurry, wait and watch.

    • For 50 Millesimal, start from 0/1 and repeat till aggravation comes, every time in modified dose & when improvement stops go for next high potency.

  • In acute diseases - use high potencies of the acute remedies.

  • In acute exacerbation of chronic - give acute complement or cognate in medium or low potency.



    • Dispensing

  • In very severe cases of acute - give high potency and then the chronic disease may show a new picture.

  • In chronic use low or medium potencies.

  • Certain medicines like Apocynum, Passiflora, Hydrocotyle, etc act well in mother tinctures.

  • Nosodes, medicines from inert substances, highly poisonous substances in their crude state should be given in medium or high potency.

  • It is only the "Similia" principle which decides whether it is homoeopathic or not. Its not the substance. So mother tinctures are homoeopathic only, when they are given according to the principle.

  • For bowel Nosodes - if the case is a new one, use medium or high potency and if the case received any remedy with in 3 months, give low potency.

  • Increase the potency gradually in treatment of chronic. Don't use only one potency. Use of ascending potencies is better than descending.

  • In allergic patients with same old chronic symptomatology, after a long remission from a constitutional remedy in high potency, the use of the same potency may precipitate severe aggravation. So go back to medium potency and observe the response carefully.

     These quotations from eminent Homoeopaths are compiled and given by Dr.S.Senthil Mohan, who is doing his post Graduation M.D(hom) at JSPS Government Homoeopathic Medical college ,Hyderabad.