Understanding Homeopathy Potency

Homeopathic remedies are prepared through a process called potentization. Potentization involves a series of systematic dilutions and successions (a forceful shaking action). Potentization is important, because it removes all risk of chemical toxicity while activating a remedy substance and enabling it to affect the body therapeutically.

The first step in producing a homeopathic remedy is acquiring a pure preparation of the original substance in its natural form (a solution of a mineral salt, a “mother tincture” of a plant, etc.). The original substance is then put through a measured series of dilutions, alternating with succussions, until the desired potency is made. Homeopathic potencies are designated by the combination of a number and a letter (for example, 6X or 30C). The number refers to the number of dilutions the tincture has undergone within a series to prepare that remedy. The letter refers to the proportions used in each dilution of the series (the Roman numeral X means 10, and the Roman numeral C means 100), as well as the number of succussions the vial of solution undergoes in each successive stage. To prepare a 6X potency of Ledum palustre, one part of the Ledum mother tincture is combined in a vial with nine parts of the carrier liquid, and succussed ten times again, making a 2X solution. The process is repeated four more times, for a total of six dilutions and succussions—and the final result is a 6X potency of Ledum. (To make a 30C, one part of the tincture would be combined with ninety-nine parts of the carrier liquid and succussed 100 times in each of thirty steps.) Pellets, tablets, or powders are then medicated with the potentized liquid, or drops of the remedy are taken in liquid form.

The more dilutions and succussions a substance undergoes, the higher the potency will be.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Rhus Toxicodendron

Extreme restlessness. Thoughts of suicide. Rheumatic pains which are worse at beginning of motion. Drowsiness after eating. Pains due to over-exertion. Pain and stiffness in small of back. Sciatica. Urticaria. Complaints are worse when at rest.

Sepia

Indifference to friends and relatives. Chronic nasal catarrh. Herpes behind ears. Nausea in morning before eating. Desire for spicy food. Irregular menses with bearing-down sensation. Weakness of back. Hot flashes at menopause.

Silicea

Intolerance of alcoholic stimulants. Tendency to formation of pus. Styes, boils and abscesses. Constipation before and after menses. Extreme coldness of body with desire to remain close to fire. Offensive foot sweat. Crippled nails. Keloid growths. Loss of smell.

Spigelia

Pericarditis, violent palpitation, angina pectoris, rheumatic carditis and other problems related to heart. Left-sided headache.

Sulphur

Forgetfulness. Burning and redness of eyes. Burning in palms and soles. Unhealthy skin with tendency to skin diseases. Great acidity. Difficult respiration. Hemorrhoids. Aversion to bathing.

Thuja Occidentalis

Fig-warts. Freckles. Fungus growths. Loss of appetite. Rapid emaciation. Constipation with violent rectal pain. Piles. Gonorrhea. Asthma in children.

Veratrum Album

Extreme coldness, blueness and weakness. Pale face. Painful diarrhea followed by great weakness. Weakness of heart with intermittent action. Cramps in calves.

Zincum Metallicum

Sensitivity to noise. Lethargy. Headache due to wine. Squinting (of eyes). Cholera of infants. Weakness, trembling and twitching of various muscles of limbs. Backache.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Opium

Lack of response to various medicines. Vertigo. Fright. Delirium. Paralysis of tongue. Obstinate constipation. Stool round like black balls. Snoring. Great drowsiness. Convulsions. Useful in coma.

Phosphoricum Acidum

Mental debility. Impaired memory. Hair thin out, turn gray early. Blue rings around eyes. Lips dry, cracked. Bleeding gums; retract from teeth. Face pale. Craving juicy things. Thirst for cold milk. Diarrhea, white, watery, involuntary, painless. Frequent urination at night. Emissions at night and at stool. Menses too early and profuse, with pain in liver. Weak feeling in chest from talking. Cramps in upper arms and wrists. Pimples, acne, blood-boils. Falling out of hair.

Phosphorus

Great lowness of spirit. Dread of death when alone. Fatty degenerations. Scurvy. Vertigo of the aged. Dandruff. Falling of hair. Hemorrhages. Cirrhosis of liver. Glaucoma. Epistaxis instead of menses. Vomiting soon after taking water. Hoarseness. Various respiratory problems.

Phytolacca Decandra

Loss of personal delicacy. Indifference to life. Dark redness of throat with swollen tonsils. Quinsy. Mumps. Cancer and abscess of breast. Urine suppressed with pain in kidney region.

Podophyllum

Profuse, painless, watery, gushing diarrhea. Internal and external piles. Grinding of teeth at night. Pulsatilla NigraPatient is timid and can be easily discouraged. Moods are changeable and contradictory. Changeable and contradictory symptoms. Mouth is dry but no thirst. Taste of mouth keeps changing. Secretions from eyes, nose and mouth are all thick. Disliking for fat and warm food. Menses delayed, scanty, thick, dark, clotted, intermittent and changeable. Pains in the body keep shifting. Styes. Acne. Measles.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Ledum Palustre

Rheumatism. Gouty nodosities. Anal fissures. Carbuncles. Complaints which appear from below upwards.

Lycopodium

Lack of self-confidence. Weakness of memory. Night blindness. Anorexia, small quantities of food create fullness. Distention of abdomen. Cirrhosis. Hernia, Painful hemorrhoids. Sciatica. Impotence. Psoriasis. Hepatitis.

Magnesia Phosphorica

Spasmodic pains. Cramps of muscles. Toothache. Flatulent colic. Menstrual colic. Angina pectoris. Spasmodic palpitation.

Mercurius - Hydrargyrum

Secondary stage of syphilis. Profuse and burning discharge from eyes. Yellow, bloody discharge from ears. Sneezing in sunshine. Swelling of nasal bones. Spongy and easily bleeding gums. Intense thirst for cold drinks. Paralysis of the aged.

Mercurius Sublimatus

CorrosivusGonorrhea, Inflammation and soreness of eyes. Red, swollen and painful throat. Bloody dysentery. Sensitiveness of epigastrium.

Natrum Muriaticum

Great weakness. High blood pressure and even low blood pressure. Blinding headache. Violent and fluent coryza specially which begins with sneezing. Numbness of tongue. Tachycardia, pulse intermits on lying down. Falling out of hair.

Niticum Acidum

Putrid breath. Bleeding of gums. Bloody saliva. Hemorrhages from bowels, profuse, bright. Hemorrhoids bleed easily. Diarrhea, slimy and offensive. Stool scanty, dark, offensive. Uterine hemorrhages. Menses early, profuse, like muddy water, with pain in back, hips and thighs. Short breath on going upstairs. Black pores on face.

Nux Vomica

Great irritability. Habit of finding faults with others. Headache in sunshine and on waking in the morning. Nose stuffed up at night. Stomach problems are aggravated by eating. Frequent ineffectual urging for stool. Blind hemorrhoids. Dysmenorrhea. Asthma due to digestive disorders. Unrefreshing sleep.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Graphites

Dryness of skin. Nails deformed and brittle. Constipation. Obesity, hot drinks create problems. Offensive breath.

Hamamelis Virginica

Bleeding hemorrhoids. Hemorrhage from any part. Varicose veins. Orchitis.

Hepar Sulphuris Calcareum

Great sensitiveness to all impressions. Tendency to suppuration. Cough when exposed to dry and cold wind. Chronic and recurring urticaria. Deep cracks on hands and feet. Great sensitiveness to dry, cold weather.

Ignatia Amara

Many of the emotional symptoms including ill effects of grief and worry. Changeable moods. Twitching of facial muscles. Insomnia. Violent yawning. Dry spasmodic cough. Feminine sexual frigidity. Coffee aggravates many problems.

Ipecacuanha

Nausea and vomiting due to any reason. Hemorrhages where blood is bright red. Diarrhea with grass-green stool. Profuse uterine hemorrhage. Asthma. Bleeding from lungs. Sleep with eyes half open. Suffocating and wheezing cough.

Kali Bichromicum

Thick, ropy secretions. Loss of smell. Stomach ulcer. Left sided sciatica. Quick migration of pains. Cirrhosis of liver.

Kali Carbonicum

Sharp and cutting pains. Sensitiveness to weather changes. Dryness and falling out of hair. Sour eructations. Weakness of back. Large hemorrhoids. Pulse weak, rapid and intermittent. Cold weather complaints.

Kali Phosphoricum

Weakness of nervous system. Mental and physical depression. Loss of memory. Humming and buzzing in the ears. Violent dysentery.

Kreosotum

Ulcerations. Cancerous affections. Very painful dentition. Rapid decay of teeth. Hoarseness. Cholera of infants. Senile gangrene. Cracking of soles.

Lachesis Mutus

Climacteric hot flashes. Toothache. Diphtheria. Quinsy and many other complaints related with throat and respiratory system. Neuralgia of coccyx.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Calcarea Carbonicum

Apprehension, forgetfulness. Excessive sweat of head. Discharging ears. Easy taking of cold. Head proportionately larger but legs thinner in children. Obesity. Loss of appetite when tired. Umbilical hernia. Gall-stone colic. Menses too early, too profuse and too long. Feet feel cold and damp.

Cantharis

Abdominal complaints which are aggravated by coffee. Inflammation of urinary passages. Constant urge to urinate. Nephritis with bloody urine. Excessive sexual desire in females. Burns and scalds. Irregular pulse, pericarditis.

Capsicum

Desire to be alone. Swelling and pain behind ears. Sore throat of smokers and drinkers. Stomatitis. Fetid odor from mouth. Intense craving for stimulants. Thirsty after stool, with shivering. Bleeding piles, with soreness of anus. Neck of bladder spasmodically contracted. Climacteric disturbances with burning of tip of tongue. Constriction of chest. Dyspnea. Sciatica, worse bending backward.

Carbo Vegetabilis

Lowered vital power. Deficiency of oxygen in the body. Digestion very slow. Hands and feet cold. Epistaxis. Distress even from simplest food. Flatulent colic. Pulse imperceptible. Easy fainting.

Causticum

Chronic rheumatic, arthritic and paralytic affections. Paralysis of tongue and vocal chords. Unsteadiness of muscles. Involuntary passing of urine specially at night and in the aged.

Chamomilla

Excessive irritability and impatience specially in children. Violent earache. Diarrhea of children during dentition. Tickling cough. Rheumatic pains.

Cinchona Officinalis or China Officinalis

General weakness. Aversion to mental or physical exertion. Ringing in ears, Violent dry sneezing. Ill effects of tea. Weakness due to loss of fluids. Painless frothy stools. Slow digestion. Distention of stomach and abdomen after eating. Hiccough. Jaundice.

Colocynthis

Intense abdominal pain causing the patient to bend over double. Dysentery. Taste very bitter. Contraction of muscles. Stiffness of joints.

Drosera Rotundifolia

Spasmodic, dry, irritating, choking cough (much likewhooping-cough) with hoarseness of voice. Nosebleed. Disinclination to speak because talking creates breathing difficulties.

Eucalyptus Globulus

Is a powerful antiseptic. Typhoid. Relapsing fever. Slow digestion. Dysentery. Nephritis. Asthma. High fever.

Ferrum Phosphoricum

Headache better by cold applications. Eyes red, inflamed, with burning sensation. Epistaxis; bright red blood. Face flushed; cheeks sore and hot. Ulcerated sore throat. Tonsils red and swollen. Eustachian tubes inflamed. Aversion to meat and milk. Anemia. Stools watery, bloody, undigested. Congestions of lungs. Hemoptysis. Expectoration of pure blood in pneumonia. Palpitation; pulse rapid. Rheumatic pain in shoulder. Restlessness and sleeplessness.

Gelsemium

Various degrees of motor paralysis. Muscular weakness. Vertigo. Insomnia. Dim-sightedness. Diarrhea from emotional excitement.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Aconitum Napellus

A state of fear, anxiety; anguish of mind and body. Physical and mental restlessness. Sudden and great sinking of strength. Complaints and tension caused by exposure to dry, cold weather. Fears the future. Eyes feel dry and hot, as if sand in them. Pain at root of nose. Tingling in cheeks and numbness. Gums hot and inflamed. Tongue coated white. Vomiting, with fear, heat, profuse sweat and increased urination. Bitter taste of everything except water. Intense thirst. Bleeding hemorrhoids. Urine scanty, red, hot, painful. Cough, dry, short, hacking; worse at night and after midnight. Tingling in chest after cough. Tachycardia. Pulse full, hard; tense and bounding. Rheumatic inflammation of joints; worse at night. Anxious dreams. Sleeplessness, with restless and tossing about.

Aesculus Hippocastanum

Dry and swollen mucous membranes. Tongue thickly coated, feels as if scalded. Hemorrhoids with sharp shooting pains up the back. Burning of anus after stool. Spine feels weak. Backache affecting sacrum and hips. Heart's action full and heavy, can feel pulsations all over.

Aethusa Cynapium

Marked inability to digest milk, and poor circulation. Stool undigested, thin, greenish, preceded by colic. Vertigo with drowsiness, with palpitation. Lymphatic glands swollen. Skin of hands dry and shrunken. Ecchymosis.

Allium Cepa

Watery and acrid nasal discharge which becomes worse in warm room. Oppressed breathing. Tickling in larynx. Eyes sensitive to light. Burning in nose, mouth, throat, bladder and skin. Sneezing, especially when entering a warm room.

Alumina

Very severe constipation, no desire for days. Rectum sore and dry. Dryness of mucous membranes. Left-sided abdominal complaints. Brittle nails. Intolerable itching when getting warm in bed. Legs feel asleep, especially when sitting with legs crossed. Staggers on walking. Heels feel numb.

Antimonium Crudum

Excessive irritability. Tongue thickly-coated white. Loss of appetite. Menses suppressed from cold bathing. Watery leucorrhea. Various skin diseases. Arthritic pain in fingers.

Antimonium Tartaricum

Respiratory problems, rattling of mucus but little expectoration. Thirst for cold water but little and often. Great drowsiness.

Apis Mellifica

Edema of skin and mucous membranes. Stinging pains. Intolerance of heat. No thirst. Swelling in throat. Swelling after insect bites. Last drops of urine burn and smart. Inflammation of kidneys.

Argentum Nitricum

Patient is always in hurry. Headache from mental exertion. Symptoms of in-coordination. Painful swelling of pit of stomach. Great desire for sweets. Intolerance of heat. Sexual weakness of males. Diarrhea immediately after eating or drinking.

Arnica Montana

Traumatic injuries. Pain from overuse of an organ. Fetid breath. Violent spasmodic cough. Angina pectoris. Small boils. Thrombosis. Tinnitus.

Arsenicum Album

Influenza with thin, watery and excoriating nasal discharge. Sneezing. Photophobia. Seaside complaints. Restlessness. Food poisoning. Intolerance of smell of food. Jaundice. Anemia. Skin dry, rough, scaly. Psoriasis which is worse in winters. periodic fever. Typhoid. Thoughts of committing suicide.

Baptisia

Septic conditions. Fetid breath. Stool offensive, thin, dark, bloody. Menses too early, too profuse. Sleeplessness and restlessness. Nightmares and frightful dreams.

Baryta Carbonica

Tonsils and glands around ears painful and swollen. Easy taking of cold. Abdomen hard and tense. Palpitation when lying on left side. Fetid foot sweat.

Belladonna

Sudden and violent complaints and inflammations. Neuralgic pains which come and go suddenly. No thirst. Redness of affected organs. Skin sore and sensitive. Dysmenorrhea, menses profuse. Eyelids red and swollen. Epistaxis. Spasmodic hiccough.

Berberis Vulgaris

Kidney and gall bladder stones. Inflammation of kidneys. Bloody urine. Anal fistula. Itching of skin worsened by scratching. Lumbago.

Bryonia Alba

Excessive irritability. Dryness of all mucous membranes. Great thirst for large quantities of water. Constipation. Menses suppressed. Frequent bleeding of nose when menses should appear. Dry cough. Joints red and swollen. All complaints are aggravated by motion.