"Remedies are, and can be made from anything that exists in nature."
CLASSICAL HOMEOPATHY, REMEDIES AND POTENCIES
After the remedy name you will see a number and a letter; this indicates the potency of a remedy — in other words, how many times the original substance has been diluted. If the substance used is of a soluble nature, 1 part is diluted in 99 parts of water or alcohol, and the mixture is mixed vigorously, or “succussed” (shaken), by striking the bottle against a firm surface, for every level of dilution.
If the substance is insoluble, it is finely ground, or “triturated”, for many hours, in the same proportions with powdered lactose (milk sugar). One part of the diluted substance is then diluted again in the same manner, and the process is repeated as many times as necessary to achieve the desired final strength. The substances that are diluted 1 part to 99 parts, are called “centesimal” potencies, and are labeled 6C, 12C, 30C, 200C and 1M.Thus, a 1M potency will have been diluted one thousand times, a 10M, ten thousand times. If the dilution factor is 1 part of the substance to 9 parts diluents, these potencies are labeled 6X, 9X, 12X, 30X etc.
Substances which have been diluted fifteen times or less (15C, 15X, or lower) are referred to as low potencies, while those diluted more than this (30C or higher) are considered medium to high potencies. Whether the homeopath will recommend a high or low potency depends on many individual factors of the case. The higher potencies (those that have been diluted and succussed more) are generally considered to have a more powerful action than the lower, but both high and low potencies, used judiciously, have their own value and place.
A classical homeopath will recommend using only one remedy at a time. This is because each remedy has its own properties, and the correct effect will be difficult to gauge if it is given together with other remedies. The use of combination remedies, which are now widely available, labeled with various ailments such as “sinus”, “allergies”, “hay fever”, “indigestion”, “flu”, “jet lag”, “anxiety” and even “acne”, is very tempting for the self-prescriber, and sometimes these combination remedies will work. However, this can also be a “hit and miss” affair. If one of the remedies in the combination remedy is the one that is needed, then it will be efficacious, if not, it will not help. This is when most people say — “Oh, I tried homeopathy and it didn’t work.”
Currently there are approximately more than 3,000 remedies in the Materia Medica, the body of work that lists the symptom picture of each remedy, according to information elicited from provings. This Materia Medica is being continually updated with new information, especially as in recent years there has been a proliferation of new provings.
Remedies are, and can be made from anything that exists in nature. Some of the latest provings include, from the periodic table, Argentum Sulphuricum, Carbon Dioxide, Ozone, Hydrogen, Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Plutonium and Positronium.
From the plant kingdom, Lotus, Ginseng, Mandragora, Rose, Ayahuasca, Anhalonium, Coriander, Vanilla, Olive, Pacific Yew, and Douglas Fir, and from the animal kingdom — Brown Recluse Spider, Earthworm, Rat’s blood, House fly, Elephant’s milk, Lion’s milk, Wolf’s milk, Dolphin’s milk, Monkey’s milk, Mother’s milk, Horse’s milk, Dinosaur bone, Butterfly, Dragonfly, Eagle, Falcon, Red Tailed Hawk, Crow, Vulture, Hummingbird, Brown Headed Cowbird, Cowrie Snail, Dove, Swan, Duck, Salmon and Seahorse.
If you are interested in information and profiles of these remedies, some of these latest provings are available for downloading in a PDF file from Luminos Homeopathic Courses Ltd @ www.homeopathycourses.com.