Posology: Different Faces Different Voices

The term 'Posology' originates from the Greek word 'posos' meaning how much and 'logos' meaning study or discourse. So, posology means the doctrine of doses of medicine i.e the study which helps us to decide the quantity or power of medicine which can be given to a patient. Homeopathic medicines are prepared by a precise and controlled process of successive "homeopathic dilution" and further succussion (vigorously shaken), overall known as potentisation. 

Potentisation is a mathematico-mechanical process by virtue of which the inherited dormant dynamic curative power of drugs is aroused or increased by modifying drug strength or drug power to dynamic power through simultaneous and successive process of dilution and friction in definite order according to pharmacopoeia. The doctrine of drug-dynamisation was introduced into homoeopathy through the 5 th edition of Organon of Medicine published in 1833. It is by this process that Homeopathic medicines are prepared in different powers or potencies. Ever since Homeopathy evolved much attention has been paid on the potency; we have chiefly Centesimal scale, Decimal Scale, and Millesimal Scale. A short description of them includes:

Each of these potency scales has its own advantages and disadvantages, so the choice of scale rests on the homeopath himself. Broadly we can divide potencies into:

Low: Potencies below 30

Medium: potencies between 30 to 1M.

High: potencies above 1M.

Even our stalwarts have divided opinion regarding as to which potency one should prescribe; some practitioners prescribe predominantly High potency while some resort to Low potencies in most of their cases.

We have as many voices as we have faces explaining the use of different potencies like, Kent advices, "When a remedy is correct, it will always work, whatever the potency. How deep and how long the remedy will work, depends on the potency."   While Boenninghausen , Boger believed in prescribing high potency Nash used medium and lower potencies while Edgar advised use of lower potencies and even mother tinctures.

According to Voisin low potencies are organotropic, medium potencies influence function and higher potencies are for the psyche.

Some homeopaths had their own clear set of laws like Roberts who advocated that if the symptoms are very similar, high potencies can be used but in cases where similarity is not so marked we give lower potencies. This was quite similar to Constantine Hering's view who advised thatif the symptoms of the case generally have more resemblance to the primary symptoms of the drug then we give lower potencies but if we have more resemblance with the later effects (secondary action) thence we give higher potencies. Elizabeth Hubbard advices using high potencies in psychic and functional cases.

Howsoever, the general axiom used for this purpose is to depend on susceptibility of the individual "More the susceptibility - higher the potency"   i.e in cases where the susceptibility is high like in children, sensitive, intellectual persons, those with sedentary occupations etc we can give high potencies.
But the fact is that still there is no hard and fast rule regarding choice of potency in a case, one becomes confident with age! It is a well known fact that high potencies cause aggravation easily, so for a safe side it is better to start with low potencies and not to change prescriptions often. If you are sure of the remedy try using other potencies before changing the remedy. But as we say you cannot learn to swim just by reading books so unless and until you start using different potencies you cannot know which one works better. So be flexible in the choice of potencies and observe keenly the response of your prescription, this will simplify your experience with potencies.

With these views I present to you the MAY ISSUE of Homeopathic Horizon on "THE POTENCY DILEMMA". We have enriched it with articles of Dr.David Little, Dr. Rati Ram Sharma, Dr. Rozencwajg, Dr. Krishnendu, Dr.Smita, Dr.Dua and Dr. Suvarna on Posology and also works of Dr.Rafeeque, Dr.Rajneesh Sharma and Dr. Rastogi. We have added some new sections in our Ezine to provide more information and touch the lives of so many others. Hoping that you all enjoy it as ever,

Happy Reading !!