Benefits of Potentisation

• No toxic side effects. As explained in tutorial 3, The Mystery of Potentisation, repeated succussion of the remedy during the potentisation process seems to imprint and amplify the therapeutic nature of the original substance onto the water and alcohol mixture; the dilution stages of the process remove the chemical residue of the original substance. By the time the remedy has been potentised to a 12C or 26X potency and beyond, it is unlikely that a single molecule of the original substance will remain. The remedy becomes a "sub-molecular" medicine that will not poison or produce toxic side effects - no matter how large the dose.
• Poisons become safe and valuable medicines. Some of the animal, plant, or mineral sources from which homeopathic remedies are prepared are highly poisonous in their base state. For example, heavy metals, snake and spider venoms, and poisons such as arsenic and strychnine could never be used as medicines in their crude form but are safe, effective agents for disease treatment when placed into potency. The Lachesis muta case that accompanies this tutorial is one such instance where a potentised snake venom was used to safely treat high blood pressure.
• Chemically inert substances are transformed into active medicines. If dilution removes the toxicity of a substance, succussion releases and amplifies its therapeutic effect. For this reason, something that has no medicinal value in its crude form can become highly active when succussed and placed into potency. For example, sodium chloride (common table salt) and sand have little medicinal use but when potentised, both can treat a large range of health problems. A Natrum muriaticum (sodium chloride) case accompanies this tutorial as an illustration.
• No addictive effects. Because potentisation removes chemicals that can lead to physical dependency or addiction, homeopathic remedies are non-habit forming. Opium, for example, is highly addictive in its crude state. In potency it safely treats types of dreaminess, stupor or coma, shock, head injuries and constipation. In the same way, potentised Cannibis indica, more commonly known as marijuana or hashish, will not create dependency as a remedy but relieve symptoms of confusion, haziness, anxiety, ecstasy, and burning urination.
• Safe to use with conventional medicines. Homeopathy not only has a different understanding to conventional medicine of the significance of symptoms, it also corrects them by initiating change at different level. Conventional drugs use chemicals to control symptoms on the physical plane. Homeopathic remedies trigger a healing response in the underlying dynamic plane. This deeper level of action is the reason why homeopathic remedies and conventional medicines, when used together, do not interact to produce unwanted effects. This subject will be explored more fully in later tutorials. In the meantime, while homeopathic remedies can be safely used with conventional medicines, there are two important things to note:

1. The use of conventional medicines can make homeopathic prescribing more difficult. These drugs change or suppress the very symptoms needed for a successful prescription according to the Law of Similars. They can even introduce new symptoms of their own by the way of side effects. If this has happened the homeopathic prescription has to be made on any remaining and unaltered symptoms, or on the symptoms that were present before the medicines were given.
2. On starting homeopathic treatment, the patient should monitor any symptoms being artificially controlled by conventional medicines as improvement triggered by the remedy can reduce the need for these drugs. This is especially true when dealing with high blood pressure or elevated blood sugar levels. Both can be lowered to dangerous levels if the conventional medicine continues to be taken when it is no longer needed.

In Conclusion

Case 1: Lachesis muta (venom of the Bushmaster snake)

On the physical level, Lachesis types can experience hot flushing (especially women during the menopause) and many of their symptoms will be worse after waking from sleep and worse for hot weather. Symptoms generally commence on the left side of the body and extend to include the right. Lying on the left hand side will also aggravate symptoms. Problems of the skin such as cuts or boils will develop a purplish discoloration. The skin may also be very sensitive to touch or pressure. Lachesis states of imbalance can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, and strokes as the person ages. There can also have a fear of these disorders and, interestingly, snakes.

Robert's Story
Robert had developed extremely high blood pressure and heart palpitations. His doctor had commenced him on medication that was controlling the pressure but his palpitations had continued. They were worse if he lay on his left side at night and his whole chest felt so sensitive that he could not bear to have it covered even by his pyjama top. He slept with it unbuttoned and the blankets pushed down. He spoke intensely and with great anxiety about his symptoms hardly pausing to draw breath during the consultation.

Robert was prescribed the homeopathic preparation of Lachesis muta. The palpitations were gone within a week and over the next two months his doctor progressively reduced and then ceased his medication as Robert's blood pressure returned to normal. His chest also lost its sensitivity to pressure and he was able to lie comfortably on his left side. Throughout the course of treatment Robert's talking also became less hurried and intense.

Case 2: Natrum muriaticum (sodium chloride or table salt)

People in a Natrum muriaticum state prefer not to share their problems with others and can even react with anger if someone tries to sympathise with them. In spite of this they themselves can be very sympathetic. Natrum muriaticum types are generally responsible and loyal people with high ideals that cause them to become controlling perfectionists. They are also prone to anxiety from thunderstorms and worry about robbers breaking into their home.

On the physical level, those needing Natrum muriaticum dislike being out in the sun. They are prone to a range of headaches and migraines, often worse at around 10am and resolving by mid to late afternoon. Colds are frequently preceded by sneezing and they can suffer from hayfever, cracked lips and cold sores. They are also likely to suffer from constipation and back pain that is relieved by hard pressure or lying on something hard. The desire for salt or salty food is a common craving.

Lena's Story
Lena presented with back pain that chiropractic and osteopathic treatment had been unable to help. Every evening after work she would lie on the floor of her lounge-room with a firm, rolled-up towel under the small of her back. She said this helped enormously. She was prone to cold sores, especially if out in the sun too long, and needed to take aperients for constipation. Headaches were a regular problem. When asked what had been her worst life experience, Lena replied that it was growing up as a teenager knowing that her mother loved her sisters more than her. Interestingly, she had never spoken to her family about this even though it was now twenty years later and she still saw them regularly. In an unemotional and detached tone, Lena admitted that the memory of the experience was still a source of grief for her.

On the basis of these and other symptoms in her case, Lena was prescribed homeopathic Natrum muriaticum. Her back pain improved rapidly. During the course of ongoing treatment her cold sores occurred less frequently, the headaches virtually disappeared, and the constipation was no longer a problem. There also seemed to be a change in Lena's mental/emotional state. Her initial seriousness and guarded behaviour softened and she laughed, smiled, and talked more during the consultations. Lena even decided to speak to her mother about her teenage experience. She was shocked when her mother broke down in tears, reassuring her that she had been dearly loved just as much as her other sisters. Had she really been overlooked and treated differently or was it a case of faulty perception? Lena is still trying to work that one out.