The Birth of a Remedy
A homoeopathic proving is a structured and controlled scientific method used to discover the effects that a newly potentised substance will have upon the Vital force of healthy individuals.
The symptoms the participants produce during this process provide the homoeopath with the information required in order to use this substance as a curative remedy, following the like cures like principle “similia similibus curentur”.
A proving brings a new remedy into the homoeopathic world, and in a similar way to how a new life is born, the proving goes through three stages; conception, gestation and birth.
The Conception
The first thing homoeopaths must do when they have the desire to conduct a proving is to decide which substance they wish to prove. Once this is done, it is necessary to research the substance to gain a depth of understanding regarding the nature of the chosen substance.
It is important to gather information about the substance, such as has this substance been used as a material medicine? and if so, what are the noted effects in a material dose? Have there been any recorded poisonings from this substance? If so, what are the recorded effects of a poisoning?
If the substance is from nature, we must ask: What is the pattern of it’s existence in nature? If the substance is man made, then what was the purpose of it’s manufacture? Does the substance have any socio-dynamic elements? These questions and more must be thoroughly explored to fully research the substance, and thus gain an in-depth knowledge of the material existence of said substance.
Once the substance has been thoroughly researched and all it’s aspects have been understood and documented, then the homoeopath is ready to move onto the next part of the process, which is potentisation. This is best accomplished by using the purest form of the substance that is to be proven.
The potentisation must be carried out by a homoeopathic pharmacy. It is vital that the pharmacy chosen for this task is well versed in the teachings of Hahnemann with regards to potentisation, and has experience with the potentisation of substances from their material form.
The substance to be proven is now ready for the next phase of the proving process.
The Gestation
This begins with selecting the volunteer provers, which will usually consist of between 10 and 20 individuals. The chosen individuals must be in reasonably good health and not on any medication at all. They must be willing participants who, most importantly are entering this process with fully informed consent. It is of the utmost importance that each prover is aware of the risks involved in a homoeopathic proving and that they fully understand what is required of them during the proving process.
Once these individuals have been selected, they will each have a thorough homoeopathic case taking in order to evaluate their baseline. For two weeks before the commencement of the proving, they will begin their proving journal in order to cement their baseline, and to focus each of them on the depth of the information required during the proving process. At the same time, during these two weeks, they will have daily contact with their proving supervisor who will also make notes in order to increase the baseline knowledge. With the provers in place with their baselines evaluated, and each with their proving supervisor ready for daily contact throughout the proving, all is now in place for the proving to being.
It has become a common practice for provings to be conducted at 30c with 3 doses administered per day until symptoms start appearing, or for a maximum of one week if no symptoms have appeared.
Historically this has not always been the case, as provings were often conducted using many different potencies and various repetitions of dose, even sometimes with increasing potency. Ultimately it is for the homoeopath conducting the proving to determine the proving protocol, however it is most important that each prover is under the same protocol and is fully supported by their supervisor.
With the potentised substance administered, the recording process begins. Each prover must keep detailed notes of all changes they experience during this time. The changes may be mental, emotional or physical. They may be dreams, sensations or energy levels. There may be changes in taste, smell and vision, or even an increase or loss of libido. For some provers symptoms can occasionally become so severe that the proving needs to be ended for them by means of an antidote. This is an important part of the support offered by the proving supervisor, supported by the detailed notes the supervisor will keep from their daily contact with the prover.
Once the effects of the newly potentised substance upon the provers starts to weaken, and no new symptoms are being reported, then the active part of the proving is coming to a close and the gestation phase ends, thus moving to the next phase of the proving.
The Birth
It is now that each of the provers will meet with the coordinator, their supervisor, and an external homoeopath in order to discuss their experiences during the proving and to go through the proving records of both the prover and supervisor.. This can take a number of sessions in order to fully analyse the proving records.
Once this process is complete it is time to fully analyse and compile all the symptoms. This is undertaken by a carefully chosen committee of homoeopaths. Individual or idiosyncratic symptoms are removed, and new symptoms experienced by multiple provers are retained. In addition, any strong symptoms that match the overall developed picture of the proving are also retained.
This process can take some time, as there is often a significant amount of information to process.
After collating the symptoms and defining them into rubrics from available repertories, the committee will, if unavoidable, create new rubrics for consideration by the collators of modern repertories.
With this work now completed, it is time for the coordinator to publish all the information provided from the proving. It is here that the full picture of this potentised substance is revealed and a new remedy is born into the world of homoeopathy.
At this point I feel it is important to recognise the work of Jeremy Sherr. For more than three decades Jeremy has brought numerous remedies into the homoeopathic world, following Hahnemann’s principles. Jeremy Sherr’s book ‘The Dynamics and Methodology of Homoeopathic Provings’ is a must-read for anybody seeking to conduct a proving, or to learn more about this glorious homoeopathic science, without which there would be no remedies with which we could fulfil our high and only mission.
REFERENCES:
- ‘The Dynamics and Methodology of Homoeopathic Provings’ by Jeremy Sherr
- ‘The Organon of Medicine’ by Samuel Hahnemann
