Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Glossary of Homeopathy Terms



aggravation - a noticeable intensification of the disease symptoms previously observed. Often associated with the action of the correct homeopathic remedy. See aphorisms 157-161, 247-249, 280, 282 of the Organon.
antidote - a substance, or a remedy, that counteracts the effect of a homeopathic remedy. High temperatures are thought to antidote remedies. Mint is said to be an antidote of Natrum muriaticum. Many feel that coffee antidotes homeopathic remedies. When a person is reacting incorrectly to a homeopathic remedy, an antidote may be given to neutralize the effects.
cell salts (biochemic remedies, tissue salts) - a homeopathic physician, W.H. Schuessler, developed the Biochemic system using 12 different 'cell salts'. Schuessler felt these were fundamental to the proper function of the human body. Prepared in low potency (3x or 6x) and used based on homeopathic indications.
Centesimal - one of three potency scales used in homeopathic pharmacy. It was the first potency developed by Hahnemann. 1 part medicinal substance (dry or tincture), mixed with 99 parts diluent (lactose or alcohol), and then succussed (shaken), yields the 1c potency. Taking 1 part of that potency mixed with 99 parts diluent, then succussed, yields the 2c potency. This is continued until the desired potency is reached. A 200c has gone through this process 200 times. A 1M potency has gone through this process 1,000 times. The higher the potency, the stronger the stimulation of the vital force.
characteristic symptom - a symptom that is 'striking, strange, unusual, peculiar' in the case. Close attention is paid to characteristic symptoms as they must correspond to symptoms of the remedy if it is to cure. For example, burning pain better heat, or better lying on the painful side. See aphorism #153 of the Organon.
common symptoms - symptoms that are common to a specific disease, for example, stiff joints in arthritis, or yellow skin in jaundice.
complete symptom - etiology, location (including radiation or extension of sensation), sensation, modalities, and concomitants all together give a complete symptom.
concomitant - occurring simultaneously. Refers to symptoms that happen at the same time as the chief complaint. One of the parts of a complete symptom.
Decimal - the first experiments with the decimal scale were performed by Constantine Hering in 1833. 1 part medicinal substance (dry or tincture), mixed with 9 parts diluent (lactose or alcohol), and then succussed (shaken), yields the 1X(D) potency. Taking 1 part of that potency mixed with 9 parts diluent, then succussed, yields the 2X(D) potency. This is continued until the desired potency is reached. dynamis-life energy, vital force.
etiology - the cause of disease. One of the aspects of a complete symptom.
homeopathy - system of natural medicine developed by Samuel Hahnemann. Based on the Law of Similars.
isopathy - the treatment of a disease with the identical disease agent.
See Aphorism 56a of the Organon.

keynote - a unique feature or fundamental aspect of a remedy.
LM (50 millesimal, Q) - the second potency scale developed by Hahnemann, introduced in the sixth edition of the Organon. Start with a 3c triturate of a remedy. One part is placed into 500 drops liquid (400 drops water, 100 drops alcohol). One drop is placed into 100 drops of alcohol. This is succussed by hand 100 times. One drop of this mixture is used to medicate 500 #10 pellets. This is the Q1 potency(sometimes written 0/1). The Q2 is made by taking 1 of these medicated pellets, putting it into 1 drop of water, and then mixing into 100 drops of alcohol. This mixture is succussed 100 times by hand."
Today, the HPUS standard differs from Hahnemann's. The following excerpt is taken from HPUS Abstracts - General Pharmacy:
"LM (50 millesimal, Q) - the second potency scale developed by Hahnemann, introduced in the sixth edition of the Organon. Start with a 3c triturate of a remedy. One part is placed into 500 drops liquid (4 parts water, 1 part alcohol 95% v/v). One drop is placed into 2 ml alcohol 95% v/v. This is succussed by hand 100 times. One drop of this mixture is used to medicate 500 #10 pellets. This is the Q1 potency (sometimes written 0/1). The Q2 is made by taking 1 of these medicated pellet and placing it into 2 ml alcohol 95% v/v. This mixture is succussed 100 times by hand."
location - where the symptom is experienced. Location is one of the parts of a complete symptom.
materia medica - "materials of medicine" in Latin. A reference that lists the curative indications and therapeutic actions of homeopathic medicines. This information is derived from provings and clinical experience.
modality - a condition that makes a person or their symptom better or worse. For example, better in a hot bath, abdominal pain better bending over, worse rainy weather, etc. Modalities are one of the parts of a complete symptom.
nosode - a homeopathic remedy prepared from diseased tissue or the product of disease.
Organon - The Organon of Medicine, by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy. This book describes the principles and practice of homeopathy. Hahnemann wrote 6 editions of the Organon from 1810-1842. The sixth edition, though finished in 1842, was not published until 1921.
potency - the strength of a homeopathic remedy. Determined by how many times the remedy has been succussed and diluted during preparation. A number and a letter are associated with the remedy name to indicate which potency scale has been used. An example of the decimal scale would be Arnica 6x. An example of the centesimal scale would be Arnica 30c. An example of the 50 millesimal scale(LM) would be Arnica LM1. These are the 3 potency scales currently in use.
potentized - usually refers to a substance prepared according to homeopathic pharmaceutical standards. This means that it has gone through serial dilution and succussion.
proving - the most accurate method of ascertaining the action of medicines on human health. Medicines(usually potentized) are administered to healthy people to discover the symptoms they are capable of producing and thereby able to cure. See aphorisms 20, 21, 108, 121, 136, 141, 145 of the Organon.
remedy - medicine, as in homeopathic remedy.
repertorize - to repertorize a case one looks up symptoms in a repertory.
repertory - an index of the homeopathic materia medica by symptom. A list of remedies is indicated for each symptom. All modern day repertories use Kent's Repertory as their starting point.
rubric - a symptom as written in a homeopathic repertory.
sarcode - a tissue or glandular extract made into a homeopathic remedy.
sensation - the experience of a symptom, what it feels like. One of the parts of a complete symptom.
Simillimum - the most similar remedy corresponding to a case. As such, the remedy most likely to cure.
succussion - the process of forcefully striking a homeopathic remedy against a firm surface.
vital force - the energy that maintains life in the individual. See aphorisms 9-12 of the Organon.
Courtesy: Naturopathic News, issue #42

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