Chapter 2: Preparation of Homeopathic Remedies

     Homeopathic remedies are prepared via a series of increasing dilutions, known as potentization. Typically when a homeopathic practitioner prepares a remedy, he or she will take a portion of whatever natural substance the patient requires, and dilute one amount of that substance in 99 parts of water. This ratio is known as 1C, sometimes referred to as 1x. One portion of that solution is again mixed with 99 parts water to form a 2C solution. A 2C solution has 1/10,000th of the original starting amount of natural substance. This process is repeated until solutions of 100C are created. Most of the homeopathic remedies available over the counter or doled out by homeopaths are of a 6C dilution.

     
     The idea that solutions of an increasingly dilute amount of a substance could somehow be stronger or more effective than a concentrated dose of the same substance seems counterintuitive to the average person. After all, ask someone if they would rather come in contact with concentrated sulfuric acid or sulfuric acid that’s been diluted 1000 times, and the answer becomes clear. Mathematically speaking, if at 2C, the original substance is diluted 1:10,000, then the original substance should be present at 0.0001% of the total solution. At the commonly sold homeopathic dose of 6C, the dilution is 1:10^12. At 12C, what is known as the Avogadro's Limit is crossed, and the likelihood of a single molecule of the original substance still being in the solution is called into question. Avogadro's Constant (6.022x10^23) expresses the number of molecules of a substance in one mole of that substance. For example, one mole of pure alcohol (ethanol) has a mass of 46.068g and has 6.022x10^23 molecules in it. If you were to take that alcohol and combine it in 1L of water, you would have a 1M solution of alcohol. If this solution is to be then diluted in a homeopathic method, at 12C the dilution would be 1:10^24, which is higher than Avogadro’s Constant and a single molecule of alcohol may not remain in the solution. Now consider that homeopathic remedies are often diluted to 30C or even 200C.
     
     The instructions on a UK homeopath’s website states as a general rule, "Chronic illnesses (i.e. those that you've had for a long time) should be treated with low potencies (i.e. 6x or 6C) and Acute conditions (i.e. those that are relatively new) with high potencies (i.e. 30x - 200c.)” This would seem to indicate that the most set-in and aggressive conditions are to be met with the least diluted remedies, and conditions which have yet to fully set-in with the most diluted doses; ultimately working against the homeopathic principle of serial dilutions. It is further explained that especially strong flavors or chemicals, such as mint or caffeine prevents the remedy from taking effect.

Sources:

https://abchomeopathy.com/help/potency.htm
http://www.nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org
Image source: http://haberfieldhealth.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Homeopathy-pills-2.jpg

Chapter 1: A Brief Introduction to Homeopathy

What does Homeopathy mean?

Homeopathy, is derived from the Greek homeo, or "similar" and pathos, meaning "suffering". The governing rule behind homeopathy is "Like cures like" meaning that diluted amounts of a substance that would cause a reaction in a healthy individual are given to the sick individual in hopes that it stimulates their body towards health. For example, let's say you went to a homeopathic practitioner with a fever. The practitioner would look fever up in a large book called a repertoire which contains a list of natural substances and their reactions, and prepare a diluted solution of whatever ingredient would cause a fever in a healthy person. 

Where did Homeopathy originate?

In the year 1796, a man by the name of Samuel Hahnemann (shown right) created the idea of homeopathy in response to the idea of miasma, which surmised that the cause of all diseases were infectious gases. Hahnemann first tested his idea after ingesting bark from a cinchona tree to test its efficacy against malaria. Eating the cinchona bark produced joint pain, fever, and shivering; symptoms also seen in those with malaria. This reinforced the idea that small amounts of a substance that normally caused ill health can be used to attain good health. (Further testing with modern day equipment and techniques has revealed that the cinchona tree contains quinine, a compound that kills Plasmodium falciparum, the bacterium that causes malaria.)

       

Is Homeopathy safe?

It can be said with 100% certainty that no human has ever died or suffered injury as the direct result of taking a homeopathic remedy. It is important to note, however that homeopathy can not treat certain conditions. There is no remedy for broken bones, no herbal compounds can repair torn ligaments, and no extract of any substance can cure one of sickle-cell anemia. Most homeopathic remedies one can buy over-the-counter are for minor conditions such as headaches or just general cold & flu remedies.

References:

Haehl, R. (2010). Samuel Hahnemann (Volume 02); His Life and Work, Based on Recently Discovered State Papers, Documents, Letters, Etc. United States: General Books.