| Hypersensitive patients (700-1000+)
Hypersensitivity is composed of over reactivity of the
constitution, idiosyncratic responses, the suppression of psora,
suppression in general, quickly developing organic pathology, diseases
which up-tune the vital force, and weakened vitality.
The signs to look for include rapid mood swings, hysterical states,
nervous temperaments, hyperactive senses, allergies, chemical and
food sensitivities, quickly changing pathological tissue changes,
diseases in the later stages, weakened vitality, and intolerance
to changes in the environment, weather and climates.
Study the physical constitution to see if you see diathetic signs
of the chronic miasms or organic deformities.
Centesimals
Use 1 pill of the lower potencies like 6c, 12c, 24c, 30c
in medicinal solution.
LMs
Use 1 pill of LM 0/1 in medicinal solution.
Only use 1 pill in a larger medicinal solution. In sensitive patients
one can use from 5, 8, 10, 20, or more ounces of diluent to make
the medicinal solution. A larger amount of water helps moderate
the remedy right from the start.
This medicinal solution should not be succussed more then 1, 2
or 3 times at the onset of treatment. Only 1/2 to 1 teaspoon should
be taken and stirred into 4 oz to 6 oz of water in a dilution glass.
From this dilution glass only 1/2 to 1 teaspoon should be used for
the first dose. The number of succussion and the number of teaspoons
can be increased gradually if necessary to maintain a curative response.
When treating the true ultra-hypersensitive with the LM 0/1 potency
the dose must be moderated by diluting the remedy through a series
of dilution glasses. Hahnemann mentions up to 6 dilution glasses.
The LM 0/1's medicinal powers are much more developed than the 30
centesimal potency.
Moderate Sensitivity (400-700)
Constitutions of a moderate sensitivity (400-700) are the
easiest to treat. The moderate sensitivity is of balanced temperament,
relatively stable vitality, and their diseases are functional or
at the beginning or early development of pathology. These individuals
are fairly tolerant of different environments, foods and medicine.
Such constitutions can be started with the middle range potencies
like 200c. In the LM system the 0/1, 0/2 or 0/3 are the normal opening
potencies. The succussions should start at a moderate number like
4, 5, or 6.
The average amount of the medicinal solution is 1 to 2 teaspoons
stirred in a dilution glass. From this glass the individual is given
1 or 2 teaspoons as a dose The dose can then be adjusted in
the upward direction by more succussions and amount if necessary.
Please refer to Hahnemann's Advanced Methods.
Hyposensitivity (1-300)
Constitutions low on the sensitivity scale (1-300). Hyposensitivity
is composed of inherited constitutional sluggishness, slow temperament,
low vitality reaction, venereal miasms, suppression, and diseases
which under-tune the vital force and produce slowly progressive
degenerative states. They are for the most part non reactive to
environmental stimuli or weather changes, etc.
The signs of hyposensitivity are flat mood, sluggish temperament,
hypoactive states, slow developing symptoms and insidious degenerative
processes. Investigate the physical constitution for the signs of
the chronic miasms or congenital deformities which stimulate low
reactivity.
Normally, hyposensitive constitutions will have a history of lack
of reaction to natural treatments and homoeopathic remedies. They
often do not demonstrate the side-effects of allopathic medicines,
and in many cases, do not believe very much in healing.
The hyposensitive constitutions usually need fairly strong stimulation
to respond. They are suited to the higher potencies, if there is
not too much organic pathology. In general, those with functional
disorders will tolerate remedies better than those with organic
pathology.
Many of these cases can be started on the 200c and 1M potency centesimals.
Ultra high potencies like 10M, 50M, CM, and MM are normally reserved
for later if needed. One, or in the most hyposensitive, two pills
are used to make the medicinal solution. The upper range of the
LM potency is also indicated in many of these cases.
The opening potencies for true hyposensitives may be between LM
0/3, 0/4, 0/5, and 0/6. It is better to start lower and work up
than cause unneeded aggravations.
The number of succussion should be at the higher end of the scale
of 1 to 10. 7, 8, 9, 10, and increasing more, succussion may have
to be used. Succussion can really'shake up' the vital force and
get things moving. Two or three teaspoons of the medicinal solutions
should then be stirred into the dilution glass and 1, 2, 3 or increasing
more teaspoons given as a dose until the desired response is attained.
Many of these individuals do very well on the'split-dose' of the
medicinal solution or a series of dose. Refer to Hahnemann's Advanced
Methods for the details.
The Fine Tuning of the Medicinal Solutions
Now that we have discussed the basics of sensitivity and
dose we need to look at a few refinements and how to work up through
the potency levels. There are two ways to adjust the amount of the
dose of the aqueous solution.
One way is to change the number of teaspoons of the medicinal solution
and the other is to change the the number of teaspoons from the
dosage glass. Increasing the number of teaspoons (1, 2, 3) of the
medicinal solution stirred into a dosage glass makes the remedy
act deeper progressively. At the same time, it dictates how fast
one moves through the potencies.
If one uses 1 teaspoon of a 4oz MS that makes 24 doses whereas
if one uses 3 teaspoons from the medicinal solution that makes 8
doses. After finishing the LM 0/1 the standard practice is to move
to LM 0/2 unless the case specifically dictates otherwise.
When one uses a larger amount of the medicinal solution, it not
only increases the size of the dose, but also affects how fast one
raises potencies. Therefore, the amount and the arc of the potency
is increased at the same time.
This means that in your lower average and hyposensitive constitutions
the progression through the potencies, LM 0/1, LM 0/2, LM 0/3, LM
0/4, etc, is much faster than the progression a hypersensitive goes
through. This is because a hypersensitive on the smaller amount,
and larger medicinal solution, may stay on LM 0/1 for a very long
time, with only the cumulative succussions slowly raising the potency.
The potency progression is almost self-regulating in relationship
to the sensitivity scale.
The second method is to increase the number of teaspoons from the
dilution glass. This is a more subtle increase of the amount and
dose which does not affect the progressive rate of consumption of
the medical solution or cause a more rapid ascent through the potencies.
This, however, can make a great difference in the reaction in some
sensitive patients.
If you have a reaction but feel the need to increase the dose,
this is often the best way to start. I tend to first adjust the
action of a remedy up or down by increasing or decreasing the succussions.
If I am not satisfied with this, I will change the size of the dose
to larger or smaller amounts. First of all, I change the amount
from the dilution glass, and secondly, from the medicinal solution
itself. The same theorem is used with the centesimal potencies in
medicinal solution.
Succussions Versus the Amount
There are two major ways to adjust the medicinal solution.
They are increasing and decreasing the succussions and the size
of the dose. How are these two methods similar and how are they
different? This subtle question comes with experience in the method.
These two methods form a functional polarity of complementary opposites.
Succussions increase the potency causing the remedy to be more active
while diluting the remedy decreases the amount of the dose moderating
the effects of potency. In the best dose these twin factors balance
with each other.
May I offer an analogy? When we increase the succussions it seems
to raise the frequency of the remedy to new harmonics. When we increase
the amount, it seems to increase the amplitude of the remedy. These
have different effects on the vital force. The succussions seem
to'shake things up' while the amount seems to 'fill things out'.
If I was going to use geometry as an analogy I would say that the
succussions have a vertical affect while the amounts have a horizontal
affect. The perfect balance of the two fills the entire space. When
I need more medicinal power to stir things up I increase the succussions.
When I wish to have more medicinal qualities I increase the dose.
This phenomenon can be witnessed but it is hard to put into words.
Managing the Potency Factors
Normally, we work up through the potencies (LM 0/1, 0/2,
0/3, 0/4, 0/5 and 0/6, etc) as the solution is consumed. If one
is not satisfied with the progress of the case, or the effect seems
to slow down, the potency should be increased immediately. The same
is true if a person seems to relapse, i.e. the potency should be
raised. This is another reason you need to have LM 0/1, 0/2, 0/3,
etc on hand.
It is much the same as with the centesimal potencies. For example,
if a 12c medicinal solution is not holding then the 30c might start
the case moving forward again. Of course, the higher the potency,
the deeper the effects. Therefore, more waiting and watching is
in order with 200c, 1M, 10M, etc..
Nevertheless, with the medicinal solution in centesimal potencies
there is no need to wait if the client is only slowly improving
or wait for a complete relapse of the symptoms.
Once you have an LM 0/1 of a remedy, it is fairly easy to make
an LM 0/2, 0/3, 0/4, 0/5, 0/6 etc. This saves money but takes time
and needs the right pharmaceutical supplies (alcohol, distilled
water, droppers, and 1 dram vials). I have made many remedies in
this fashion. One must learn when one must raise the LM potencies
while you follow the case.
As I said before, most cases are started with LM 0/1, LM 0/2 and
LM 0/3 but not all. This is like starting between 30 or 200 of the
centesimal remedies. The action may be even deeper although the
duration may not be as long in some cases. Starting an LM case with
LM 0/4, LM 0/5 and LM 0/6 is like 200c, 1M, and 10M but not exactly
the same. This is because the medicinal qualities of the LM are
quite different from the centesimals. The qualitative difference
must be learned through experience.
LM 0/1 has almost the same physical amount of the original substance
as a 6c, but it certainly does not act like a low potency! LM 0/1
is much deeper than a 30c and has the depth of a moderately high
potency (at least 200c or above but it's not really the same thing!).
The LM potency passes Avogadro's number at around LM 0/4. This
is speaking of the base tincture, not the amounts when they are
diluted in the medicinal solution and the dilution glass. This causes
the remedy to pass Avogadro's number more quickly.
So in a sense you have a remedy that is quite physical yet dynamic
and has the best qualities of both a high and low potency. It has
great depth and yet it is repeatable if and when necessary. The
LM 0/1 is a much deeper acting remedy than a 30c.
If you wish to avoid unnecessary aggravations and use LM's properly,
it is best not to think of them as low potency remedies that can
be repeated daily.
Hahnemann's "new methods" are equally applicable to the centesimal
scale as the LM scale. The use of these complementary potency systems
greatly expands the therapeutic horizons of Classical Homoeopathy.
We call on homoeopaths to make experiments and take on trials with
Hahnemann's definitive potency system.
It will not be easy for those who are only used to the posology
methods of the 4th Organon and the dry dose. Much new material
must be digested and trials carried out so that one gains experience.
Those homoeopaths who truly practice the methods of the 4th Organon
are in a good position to take on the advanced methods. This is
because they have mastered the wait and watch method and have real
respect for the medicinal powers of homoeopathic remedies.
With this strong foundation they have the background to truly practice
the methods Hahnemann introduced in his last 10 years (1833-1843).
Many who try to practice the LM potency without this background
tend to approach these dynamic remedies in a mechanistic fashion.
They do not have the experience in Homoeopathy to understand just
what is needed and what must be learned.
Many students of Homoeopathy are learning the correct way from
the start which is indeed fortunate. As more experience is gained
in Hahnemann's advanced methods, more qualified teachers will appear.
Things are getting better.
I wish you all the best in your studies.
Similia Minimus
Sincerely, David Little
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