Keywords
Millesimal, potency, homoeopathy, potentisation, repeatation, chronic disease
Abstract
The 50 millesimal scale of potency is the highest development in homoeopathy up to this day. Organon has recommended potencies from 0/1 to 0/30 only. As vitality of the human body is limited, Hahnemann has put a limit to medicine up to 30 for treatment of sick human beings. Towards the end of master hahnemann’s life, he treated his patients most successfully with medicines of 50 millesimal potency. Dr. Hahnemann advised to begin with the lowest degree of dynamisation as in footnote to aphorism 246 and aphorism 270.
History of 50 millesimal scale
Dr. Hahnemann continuously experimented with dosage, potentisation and repeatation in order to perfect his therapeutic art. The discovery of “similia similibus curentur” led to minimizing drug quantities to avoid initial aggravation and exploring the pharmacodynamic properties of drugs. Hahnemann’s mathematical mechanical process or dynamisation involved preparing drugs by dilutions with succussions according to a specific proportion. The sixth edition of organon did not see publication during Hahnemann’s lifetime because he died before finalizing negotiations with printers. Dr. Richard Haehl obtained the original manuscript in 1920 and Dr. Boericke published the English edition in America in 1922. Dr. Pierre Schmidt published a French translation of the sixth edition of organon. Dr. Pierre Schmidt discusses the innovations and last advise of Hahnemann in the 6th edition of organon. it is considered as the posthumous work of Dr. Hahnemann.Dr. S. Rawson described it as “succussed dilution”.
Introduction
Master Hahnemann revised organon 5 times in order to incorporate all his ideas and improved method observed from continous experimentations made on healthy human beings of variable ages, both sexes and different constitutions. While he practiced homoeopathy in paris, he noticed unusual nervous excitability and medicinal aggravation. To avoid this unwanted aggravation, he tried to further minimize the material quantity of drug even beyond 30C. The new scale is known as 50 millesimal scale or renewed dynamisation as mentioned in aphorism 161 or new altered but perfect method as mentioned in footnote to aphorism 132. The term “50 millesimal scale” was coined by Dr. Pierre Schmidt of Geneva. Because the material part of medicine was said to be decreased by 50,000 times for each degree of dynamisation. The preparations so made were called “medicaments au globule” which represents the numerator of 50 millesimal scale (0/1, 0/2 etc.) as well as the poppy sized globules used for dynamisation. The name ‘Q-potency’ was introduced by Jost Künzli von Fimmelsberg. But in India, the word “Q” is used as an abbreviation for mother tincture. Rudolf Flury preferred the abbreviation LM. It is preferred as incorrect as the Roman numeral LM would denote the number 950 rather than 50,000. This is why Will Klunker supported ‘Q’ as the only legitimate abbreviation for the 50 millesimal potencies (Lat. Quinquaginta milia).
Preparation of 50 millesimal scale
preparations of 50 millesimal scale is mentioned in aphorism 269 of organon of medicine. The ratio of medicine to the menstrum or diluting medium is 1:50,000 in each potency, instead of 1:100 in the centesimal scale.
Medicinal substance triturated up to 3C with sugar of milk
1 grain of 3C + 100 drops of alcohol + 400 drops distilled water
Mother tincture (drug power = 1/5×10⁸)
1 drop of mother tincture + 100 drops of alcohol + 100 succussion
1st 50 millesimal potency (0/1)
Drug power= 1/5×1010
Conversion in form of globules
500 small globules are moistened with 1 drop of 0/1 and dried quickly. Each poppy sized globule of a subsequent potency conveys the 50,000th part of a same sized globule of the preceding potency.
1 gMlobule of 0/1 + 1 drop distilled water + 100 drop alcohol + 100 succussion
2nd 50 millesimal potency (0/2)
Similarly, the preparation of 50 millesimal scale goes up to 30 potency.
Mode of administration of medicine
Dr. Hahnemann has mentioned about the mode of administration of 50 millesimal scale in a quite different way as mentioned in aphorism 245 to 248 of organon of medicine.
1 globule of selected potency + Take 40, 30, 20, 15 or 8 tablespoon of water + add some alcohol for preservation
Succussed 10 times (everytime before administration of medicine)
take tablespoonful of solution & mix with glass of water containing 7-8 spoon water and stirred
only 1 teaspoon is given to patient from this solution
Method of repeating dosage of medicine
pharmacopallaxy or the medicinal repeatation is of great interest to medical men, particularly homoeopaths. According to aphorism 246 of organon, any clearly defined improvement showing obvious progress forbids repeated administration of any medicine. Repeatation of medicine depends on the nature of the disease.
Example :-
1. Long lasting diseases- daily or every 2nd day
2. Acute disease- every 2, 3, 4 or 6 hours
3. Very urgent cases- every hour or oftener
Scope of 50 millesimal potencies
1. Due to the lesser amount of material quantity in this potency, chances of aggravation in sick organisms is minimum.
2. It produces the highest development of power and mildest action of drug substance.
3. Its action touches all the suffering parts of organism curatively.
4. It is possible to repeat dosage of medicines in long standing chronic cases.
5. This potency unfolds latent dynamic power of drug up to maximum level.
6. This helps in rapid and lasting penetration of dynamic power of drugs with gentle impression as well as permanent restoration of health.
7. More rapid cure is possible via the 50-millesimal scale than any other scale.
8. We can quickly judge the correctness of selected similimum medicine in this scale unlike in the centesimal scale of deep acting drug. By this, it helps in unnecessary wasting of time.
9. It can be repeated daily unlike in any other scale.
10. Some constitutional medicine can be given for palliative as well as curative in incurable chronic diseases. Sometimes incurable cases turn into curable in the long run.
11. The highest ideal of cure can be achieved with the help of 50 millesimal scale of potencies only.
12. According to Dr. J.N.Kanjilal, medicines of 50 millesimal scale will cause amelioration first and followed by aggravation only towards the end of treatment.
13. It is permissible for antipsorics. These may be given for months at a time without any danger.
When to use high potency?
We should rather be in a room with a dozen nigroes slashing withers than in the hands of an ignorant prescriber of high potencies.
- In patients with increased susceptibility
- Extreme similarity between patient and remedy
- Qualified mental symptoms covered by remedy
- Disease in functional zone
- Remedy in inert state
- Cases not responding to low and medium potencies
- Hypersensitive patients
- Children, young, vigorous persons, intellectuals, impulsive, quick to act and react patients, sedentary occupation
Discussion
In chronic diseases, correctly chosen medicine even though whose action is of long duration repeated for months with ever increasing success. Mostly in chronic diseases, if we apply 50 millesimal potency, aggravation appears towards the end of the treatment if the chosen remedy is the perfect similimum. In that case, dosage reduced and medicine repeated in longer intervals and stopped several days to see if the convalescence need more medicinal aid. The apparent symptoms caused by excess of medicines will soon disappear and health of patient will be restored. Boenninghausen said, “A new Simplified procedure for potentising medicine which has considerable advantage over the former & yields a Preparation as to the efficiency of which I can, from my Own experience, give full praise.” Dr. Charles wrote, “With these marvelous dilutions one can obtain marvelous cures Too, and in a shorter time than with the usual CM Potencies.”
CONCLUSION
It is safe to use in all type of diseases either acute or chronic as well as equally effective in all age groups and both sexes. Preparation of 50 millesimal by distilled water is effective, safe, easy to consume and cost effective. Chances of aggravation is very less with 50 millesimal scale. It can be repeated frequently without aggravation. Highest ideal of cure can be achieved by this scale. It is gentle in action and well effective in difficult chronic diseases. It allows frequent repeatation without aggravation along with reducing treatment duration. It is an essential tool for homoeopathic practice which offers efficient way of healing.
REFERENCE
• Hahnemann S. Organon of Medicine.6th ed. New Delhi: B Jain Publishers; 2002
• Dr. Choudhury H.50 millesimal potency in theory and practice . 3rd revised and enlarged edition: B.Jain publishers Pvt . Ltd.; 2000.
• Dr. Kulkarni A.- the potency dilemma – tailoring the remedy to the patient – 1st edition – 1999
• Dr. Schmidt P. – 50 millesimal potencies
• Prof. Das A.- A treatise on organon of medicine- part 2- 2nd edition revised reprint – 2016
