Potency - Methods of Production

I recently had a very good question from a student regarding different results of the same remedy and potency manufactured by different homeopathic laboratories. Her observation was that she had different responses to the same remedies that were manufactured by different pharmacies. Some pharmacies remedies were stronger and had more of an effect. She wondered why this was so.

Over the years many different methods for potentization have been experimented with in efforts to save on the materials used to make the remedies. Using the methods that Hahnemann described would require the use of thousands of vials in the making of higher potencies, not to mention the time involved by having to utilize human labor in the hand sucussion process. This would make the higher potencies (30C and higher) very expensive.

In Hahnemann's method of potentization the original mother tincture or triturate is dissolved as one part to 99 parts of alcohol and water. This is shaken (succussed) vigorously by pounding the vial to a hard bound book producing the 1C. This solution was then diluted at a ratio of one part to another 99 parts of alcohol and water and succussed producing the 2C potency. This process requires a new vial for each potency and the time and energy to dilute and succuss. Most lower potencies up to the 30C potency are made this way. They are labeled as the "C" or "CH"  potencies . C=Centisimal and H= Hahnemann. Often only the C is used by American pharmacies indicating a one to one hundred dilution. "X" (in America) or "D" (in Europe) potencies are produced in a similar way using a one to ten or "decimal" dilution ratio." LM" or " Q" (Quinquaginta millesimal) potencies are those made by Hahnemann's  method utilizing the one to 50,000 dilution ratio.

Since making homeopathic remedies required so many vials, in the 1820's, Korsakoff, a Russian physician, created a new method using one vial and allowing the remaining liquid that clings to the bottle be considered the next part of the one to one hundred dilution. Then the dilution is succussed again in each step of the potency manufacturing. The remedies produced by this method are called "CK" Centesimal Korsakovian or just "K" potencies. Often in European and Indian pharmacies the higher C potencies will be made this way.

Dr. Thomas Skinner developed a machine which measured 99 drops into a vial which was emptied and refilled with 99 more drops of the alcohol and water mixture. This would be repeated over and over again until a very high potency was achieved. No true succussion takes place in this method. It is referred to as intermittent (dis-continuous) fluxion. Others have modified this machine to include a high pressure injection of the alcohol and water mixture that creates agitation and is supposed to be more similar to succussion. This is the most common way that higher potencies are made today.

Michael Quinn of Hahnemann Laboratories in Calif (1-888-427-6422) improved on this idea and created a machine that runs on air and is isolated from all electromagnetic fields. He engineered a mechanical arm similar in length to his own that holds the vial and beats it on a book that imitates hand succussion. This is the very closest way to make a remedy similar to hand succussion. In my opinion they are the very best remedies available. He is able to sell high potency remedies at an affordable cost and they are the most potent remedies available to inspire the vital force.

Radionics is another more esoteric way to create an energy attached to the pellet. It is not really an approved homeopathic method for the creation of homeopathic remedies but much evidence says that in fact they do work. The radionic method was first used to make remedies by Malcolm Rae. He described the "energy" of different substances by dowsing the relationship of its uniqueness to the particular markings on a circle creating a "command card". This relationship of markings is individual to each substance. With the use of focused intention and the card as the unique pattern of energy, pellets are exposed to a magnetic field used to amplify the thought, creating a remedy. Potency is determined by a potentiometer, a scaled device that further focused the intention. I am not sure if any pharmacies are using this method to create homeopathic remedies. I am sure though that some practitioners use this method to create remedies for their clients.

As you can see there are many ways to create a homeopathic remedy. With this many ways there is bound to be different results to the end product. They all will still be remedies but the potency of them will vary considerably. This does not mean that a remedy would not work at all but changing remedy manufacturers during treatment might achieve a completely different result. I do not think this makes a significant difference in the very low potencies. But as the potencies get closer to the 30C and beyond it could make a very significant difference.

Once a treatment plan is in place it is good to get remedies from the same manufacturer. This insures that the same method for production will be used in the remedy. I personally use and recommend Hahnemann Pharmacies remedies because they are made to the very highest standards in methods as close to Hahnemann's original descriptions in the Organon. They have always been very effective and consistent.

In the end it will make a difference which manufacturer makes the remedy and where it is acquired. Remedies should be stored correctly and handled with the proper care.