Fifty Millesimal Potencies - An Overview - homeopathy360

Fifty Millesimal Potencies – An Overview

ABSTRACT

Fifty millesimal potencies are a radical and remarkable innovation by Hahnemann in his final years. However, due to their delayed publication and circulation, there has been some reluctance by the homoeopathic fraternity for their large-scale use. This paper explores the origin of this new scale of potencies; presents the discrepancies in their nomenclature and an overview of the advantages and limitations of their use. A study of the success stories of stalwarts who had employed this scale in their clinical practise makes a case for their wider promotion and use by the pharmaceutical industry as well as practitioners of homoeopathy.

 KEYWORDS : Fifty millesimal potencies, Q potencies, LM potencies, 6th edition of Organon of Medicine, merits, limitations

Abbreviations: LM potency – fifty millesimal potency

INTRODUCTION

It was in the process of re-learning, re-proving, re-checking and evolving that Hahnemann discovered the fifty-millesimal potencies. As Hahnemann learnt more about the vitality and the action of dynamited drugs became clearer with use – he felt certain developmental needs in the process of dynamisation. As it is said, “necessity is the mother of invention”, so was the case with fifty millesimal potencies. There were several practical ‘necessities’ that indicated a need to work further on improving the action of dynamised medicines in terms of depth of action, absence of aggravation, shortening the time taken for action and an earlier possibility of changing the medicines. The question of dose, repetition of remedy and even succession were issues already discussed in Hahnemann’s articles and essays, during the last ten years he lived in Germany[1]. This articles aims to provide a quick overview of various facets of fifty millesimal scale of potentization.

NOMENCLATURE

Currently, there are several names used for fifty millesimal potencies. This variation is not just between countries and regions but also within countries. This is also the case with the symbols used to denote it.

The two commonly used names are “LM potency” and “Q potency”.

LM potency

This is the most commonly used name in the Indian sub-continent and Latin America. This was popularized by Rudolf Flury of Switzerland.[2] In Roman numerals, the numeral ‘L’ stands for 50 and the numeral ‘M’ stands for 1000. However, this name is technically incorrect as ‘LM’, when written together, indicates 950 and not 50,000.

Q potency

‘Q’ stands for “quinquaginta milia” in latin which means 50,000 (Quinquaginta stands for fifty and milia stands for thousand). Thus, this name is technically correct.[3] However, in the Indian sub-continent, ‘Q’ is incorrectly used to denote mother tinctures. The correct way to denote mother tinctures is to use ‘ϕ’ (phi).[4] 

Other terms used to denote fifty millesimal potencies in early homoeopathic literature:

Divisions infinitesimals

This was the term used when fifty millesimal potencies were mentioned for the very first time in a letter written by Hahnemann’s wife Melanie to Boenninghausen in French in the mid-1850s.2

New dynamisation method

This term was used when Hahnemann first referred to fifty millesimal potencies in the 6th edition of Organon of Medicine. The first such mention is in footnote 1 of aphorism 132.[5]

HISTORY OF FIFTY MILLESIMAL POTENCIES

The history of fifty millesimal potencies can be best understood in two parts:

  • Before publication of the 6th edition of Organon of Medicine (19th century)
  • After publication of the 6th edition of Organon of Medicine (20th century)

 Before publication of 6th Edition of Organon of Medicine

There is consensus among homoeopathic historians and researchers who have studied Hahnemann’s practice in Paris that his new method of potentization was only known to him and his wife, Melanie. He did not make the method public and was intending to do so only in the 6th edition of the Organon of Medicine.[6]

The communication he had with Boenninghausen through letters in the year 1853 in the last few weeks of his life indicated that there was something very significant he intended to bring to the world with the 6th edition of the Organon of Medicine. He even sent Boenninghausen two cases attached to this letter. However, Boenninghausen was unable to personally clarify the changes intended before Hahnemann’s death.Boenninghausen in his subsequent writings praised higher dilutions but never wrote anything directly about Q potencies.2

However, in one of his later articles, he clearly mentions:

“The immortal Hahnemann, in the last years of his life, had accordingly for some time followed, in the preparation of his remedies and in his doses, a method different from that which he had recommended to the public in his former works; the modifications then introduced he intended to publish to the world in the last edition of his Organon.”[7]

After the publication of the 6th edition of Organon of Medicine:

The 6th edition of Organon of Medicine was translated by William Boericke and Richard Haehl. William Boericke’s translation was published by ‘Boericke and Tafel’ whereas Richard Haehl’s edition was published by Willimar Schwabe in 1921.

However, the publication of the 6th edition did not bring the LM potencies to the forefront. Neither Boericke nor Haehl refer to the significance of this new method in the introduction to their respective editions. Astonishingly, for upto 20 years after the publication of the 6th edition, LM potencies did not gain spotlight.

The credit of re-discovering the LM potencies goes to the swiss physician; Dr Rudolf Flury.2 He made his own medicines in LM potencies as no manufacturer prepared such potencies and used only LM potencies in his practise. He presented numerous papers on the method of their preparation, use and clinical success.

PREPARATION

A detailed description of how Hahnemann made the Q- potencies can be found in aphorism 270 of the 6th edition of Organon of Medicine with the relevant footnotes -“in order to best obtain this development of power, a small part of the substance to be dynamized, say one grain, is triturated for three hours with three times one hundred grains sugar of milk up to the one-millionth part in powder form. One grain of this powder is dissolved in 500 drops of a mixture of one part of alcohol and four parts of distilled water, of which one drop is put in a vial. To this are added 100 drops of pure alcohol and given one hundred strong succussions with the hand against a hard but elastic body. This is the medicine in the first degree of dynamization with which 500 small sugar globules which can absorb one drop of the medicine may then be moistened and quickly spread on blotting paper to dry and kept in a well corked vial with the sign of (I) degree of potency. Only one globule of this is taken for further dynamization, put in a second new vial (with a drop of water in order to dissolve it) and then with 100 powerful successions. With this alcoholic medicinal fluid globules are again moistened, spread upon blotting paper and dried quickly, put into a well-stoppered vial and protected from heat and sun light and given the sign (II) of the second potency & so on.”5

 

DISPENSING AND ADMINISTRATION

The medicine is dispensed by taking one poppy seed pellet and placing it in a 100 ml bottle. The bottle is then filled to the neck with purified water and 15 drops of rectified spirit are added. The bottle is succussed ten times and provided to the patient. The patient is advised to give 10 downward strokes to the bottle against the palm of his hand or a leather-bound book. The number of successions is adjusted to the sensitivity level of the patient, typically 4 to 10 times. The patient is supposed to pour one teaspoon from the bottle into a cup with 100ml water, stir it well and take one teaspoon (5ml) as the daily dose. The patient begins with LM1, typically for 2 weeks then moves on to LM2, then LM3.[8]

Dr Hari Mohan Choudhary, one of the stalwarts of Homoeopathy in India, has mentioned the following procedure for dispensing and administration of fifty millesimal potencies:

“Fill up 3/4th parts of the 4 oz. vial with purified or distilled water. Put therein 15 to 20 drops of alcohol for preservation. Put 7 equal marks on it. Now put therein only one No. 10 globule of 1st potency (LM/1) or 2nd or 3rd potency (i.e. , LM/2 or LM/3) of your selected medicine, crushing it with sugar of milk. Now this medicinal solution is ready for use. The aforesaid medicinal solution of 7 doses of the lowest degrees of dynamization is to be well succussed 8, 10 or 12 times as necessary, before use. Then take one dose in a clean glass and put again 4 oz of pure drinking water in it and stir it well with a tea-spoon. Then take one dose (one or several tea-spoonfuls) out of it. This is the first dose. Throw away the rest. All subsequent doses are to be taken in this way.”[9]

However, there is still no unanimity among homoeopathic physicians about the most suitable method for dispensing and administering the fifty millesimal potencies. Dr Ramanlal Patel, one of the foremost authorities on this subject in India has mentioned the following possible methods:

  1. Preparation of one dose in 2 grains of sugar of milk using 2 pills(no. 10) of selected potency of medicine in cases of chronic diseases.
  2. Dissolve 1 or 2 pills of selected medicine in one ounce of water and ask the patient to take a teaspoon at prescribed interval.
  3. Dissolve 2 pills of selected potency in one ounce of water and ask the patient to take half ounce in the morning and half ounce in the evening after stirring in cases with no immediate danger.[10]

MERITS OF FIFTY MILLESIMAL POTENCIES

  1. No violent reaction is produced by Vital force following the administration of medicine.9
  2. Quick Action.[11]
  3. Repetition is possible and recommended.5
  4. Can be safely used in hyper sensitive persons.10
  5. No worry of over dosing.9
  6. As the action is quick, medicine selection can be judged in a much lesser time.[12]
  7. No antidote is required if the medicine is wrongly administered.5
  8. Poisonous medicinal substances can be used safely in this scale and can be repeated without fear of toxicity.5

LIMITATIONS OF FIFTY MILLESIMAL POTENCIES

The below mentioned limitations have been experienced by the authors in their clinical practice.

  1. Patients’ compliance is poor and challenging.2
  2. Limited medicines are readily available in fifty millesimal potencies with manufacturers.
  3. Limited fifty millesimal potencies are readily available.
  4. Amount of water needed to be dissolved with medicine and number of successions needed is still not well established.
  5. There is no clarity on how to administer undercurrent remedies using fifty millesimal scales as may be needed in treatment of multi miasma tic cases.

RECEPTION BY FRATERNITY – STALWARTS’ VIEWS

Adolf Voegli (1898-1993): He was one of the important patrons who popularized LM potencies. He stated, “In thousands of tests, I had to convince myself that the 50 millesimal potencies achieve much stronger and longer lasting curative effects than the centesimal potencies.” He called them “insubstantial biological energy units”.2

Jost Kunzli (1915-1992): He was a very influential teacher and practitioner in Europe.

He greatly patronized the Q potencies. He increased the Q potency by 2 stages when treating the chronic patients. In his articles published in homoeopathic journals, he also mentioned other application methods, such as giving one globule of the indicated medicine on the tongue.[13]

Mathias Dorsci: In chronic diseases, he gave the LM6 for 5 weeks and then switched over to LM12, followed by LM30 potency. He always started with LM6 and used to give 5 drops on the tongue. However, he admitted that it was impractical for many of his patients.2

Pierre Schmidt: He used Q potencies only with patients who were also using allopathic drugs, for example, anti-epileptics.[14]

Tyler and Borland: M L Tyler and Weir Borland, the famous physicians at the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital, felt that Hahnemann’s new method of potentisation was being misinterpreted. According to them, Hahnemann was only trying to explain the “plussing method” of the centesimal potencies.2

RESEARCH UPDATES

A number of good quality research papers related to the use of fifty millesimal potencies have been published, a few of which are mentioned below.

  • A clinical review of cases over 15 years by A Brazilian group of doctors headed by U C Adler concluded the use of LM potencies to be the more efficient method[15];
  • A metacentric exploratory clinical study conducted by CCRH concluded that LM potencies are more effective than centesimal potencies in pain management of cervical spondylosis[16];
  • Another placebo controlled randomized trial conducted by CCRH revealed that LM potencies were more effective than placebo in managing haemorrhoidal pain[17];
  • A metacentric RCT conducted by CCRH revealed LM potencies to be as effective as centesimal potencies in symptomatic uterine fibroids[18];

THE WAY AHEAD

  • Standardization of the preparation and administration of fifty millesimal potencies.
  • Manufacture of a wider range of medicines;
  • Proving of medicines in fifty millesimal potencies vis-a-vis conventional provings;
  • Efficacy of homoeopathic medicines in centesimal scale vis-a-vis fifty millesimal scale in different clinical conditions.

Addressing the above issues will ensure wider popularity and use of fifty millesimal potencies among homoeopathic physicians.

 

REFERENCES


[1] Schmidt J M. History and relevance of the 6th edition of the Organon of Medicine (1842). British Homoeopathic Journal. 1994; 93: 42 – 48.

[2] Jutte R. The LM Potencies in Homoeopathy English ed. Stuttgart. Institut fur Geschichte der Medicine der Robert Bosch Stiftung; 2008.

[3] Fournier D. LM or Q? Homeopathic Links Autumn 2007; 20: 155 – 161.

[4] Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India, Volume 1, New Delhi, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2003

[5] Hahnemann S. Organon of Medicine. Translated from the fifth edition by R E Dudgeon, with additions and alterations as per sixth edition translated by William Boericke. New Delhi B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd; 2002.

[6] Haehl R. Samuel Hahnemann: His Life and Work, Vol. 2 New Delhi B. Jain Publishers, reprint ed.1992.

[7] Boenninghausen CV. The Lesser Writings: The Use of High Attenuations In Homoeopathic Practice, E-Book Radar Opus, Page 170

[8] Banerjee DD. Augmented Textbook of Homoeopathic Pharmacy, second ed New Delhi B Jain publishers 2006.

[9] Choudhary H. 50 Millesimal potency in Theory and Practice. 3rd ed. New Delhi. B Jain Publishers. 2014

[10] Patel R P. My Experiments with 50 Millesimal Scale Potencies. 5th Ed. Kottayam. Hahnemann Homoeopathic Pharmacy. 1986

[11] Patil SR, Lucas PJ. A Study of LM Scale Potency in Homoeopathic Practice. Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Innovation; 8 (38) 2021; 15-22

[12] Schepper L De, LM potencies: one of the hidden treasures of the sixth edition of the Organon, British Homoeopathic Journal 1999; 88: 128-134.

[13] Kunzli F J. Die Quiinquagintamillesimalpotenzen, ZKH 1960 (4): 47-56

[14] Schmidt P. The Hidden Treasures Of The Last Organon. British Homoeopathic Journal 1954 44: 134-156.

[15] Adler UC, Cesar AT, Adler MS, Alves A, Garozzo EN,  Galhardi WMP, Padula AE, et al. LM or Q Potencies ± Homoeopathic Links. 2005; 18: 87-91

[16] Nayak C, Singh V, Gupta J, Ali MS, Pal R, Arya MD, et al. Homoeopathic Individualized LM-Potencies Versus Centesimal Potencies For Pain Management Of Cervical Spondylosis: A Multicenter Prospective Randomized Exploratory Clinical Study, Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy 2012 6(4): 16-23

[17] Chakraborty PS, Roja V, Majumdar AK, Banoth K, Prasad S, Ghosh MS, et al. Homoeopathic LM potencies for acute attacks of haemorrhoidal disease, Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy 2013 7(2): 72. 

[18] Oberai P, Indira B, Roja V, Rath P, Sharma B, Soren A, et al. A Multicentre Randomized Clinical Trial of Homoeopathic Medicines in Fifty Millesimal Potencies Vis‐À ‐Vis Centesimal Potencies on Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids. Indian J Res Homoeopathy 2016; 10:24‐35.

[1] Schmidt J M. History and relevance of the 6th edition of the Organon of Medicine (1842). British Homoeopathic Journal. 1994; 93: 42 – 48.

[1] Jutte R. The LM Potencies in Homoeopathy English ed. Stuttgart. Institut fur Geschichte der Medicine der Robert Bosch Stiftung; 2008.

[1] Fournier D. LM or Q? Homeopathic Links Autumn 2007; 20: 155 – 161.

[1] Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India, Volume 1, New Delhi, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2003

[1] Hahnemann S. Organon of Medicine. Translated from the fifth edition by R E Dudgeon, with additions and alterations as per sixth edition translated by William Boericke. New Delhi B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd; 2002.

[1] Haehl R. Samuel Hahnemann: His Life and Work, Vol. 2 New Delhi B. Jain Publishers, reprint ed.1992.

[1] Boenninghausen CV. The Lesser Writings: The Use of High Attenuations In Homoeopathic Practice, E-Book Radar Opus, Page 170

[1] Banerjee DD. Augmented Textbook of Homoeopathic Pharmacy, second ed New Delhi B Jain publishers 2006.

[1] Choudhary H. 50 Millesimal potency in Theory and Practice. 3rd ed. New Delhi. B Jain Publishers. 2014

[1] Patel R P. My Experiments with 50 Millesimal Scale Potencies. 5th Ed. Kottayam. Hahnemann Homoeopathic Pharmacy. 1986

[1] Patil SR, Lucas PJ. A Study of LM Scale Potency in Homoeopathic Practice. Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Innovation; 8 (38) 2021; 15-22

[1] Schepper L De, LM potencies: one of the hidden treasures of the sixth edition of the Organon, British Homoeopathic Journal 1999; 88: 128-134.

[1] Kunzli F J. Die Quiinquagintamillesimalpotenzen, ZKH 1960 (4): 47-56

[1] Schmidt P. The Hidden Treasures Of The Last Organon. British Homoeopathic Journal 1954 44: 134-156.

[1] Adler UC, Cesar AT, Adler MS, Alves A, Garozzo EN,  Galhardi WMP, Padula AE, et al. LM or Q Potencies ± Homoeopathic Links. 2005; 18: 87-91

[1] Nayak C, Singh V, Gupta J, Ali MS, Pal R, Arya MD, et al. Homoeopathic Individualized LM-Potencies Versus Centesimal Potencies For Pain Management Of Cervical Spondylosis: A Multicenter Prospective Randomized Exploratory Clinical Study, Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy 2012 6(4): 16-23

[1] Chakraborty PS, Roja V, Majumdar AK, Banoth K, Prasad S, Ghosh MS, et al. Homoeopathic LM potencies for acute attacks of haemorrhoidal disease, Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy 2013 7(2): 72. 

[1] Oberai P, Indira B, Roja V, Rath P, Sharma B, Soren A, et al. A Multicentre Randomized Clinical Trial of Homoeopathic Medicines in Fifty Millesimal Potencies Vis‐À ‐Vis Centesimal Potencies on Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids. Indian J Res Homoeopathy 2016; 10:24‐35.

About Author:

Aditya Pareek 1, Nitika Pareek 2, Chaturbhuja Nayak 3

  1. Consultant Physician and Director – Pareek Hospital, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
  2. Consultant Pediatrician and Director – Pareek Hospital, Agra (U.P.), Uttar Pradesh, India
  3. Former Director General, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, under Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, New Delhi and President, Homoeopathy University, Jaipur, Rajasthan

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