Which homeopathic potency should I choose?

What makes homeopathy a safer option to conventional medicine is the potency. In homeopathy, potency refers to the dilution.

Let’s take arsenic for example. You’d never take arsenic in its original form as it is potent and can CAUSE severe diarrhoea, vomiting and even death. But arsenic that has been heavily diluted and shaken, can be taken in a safe homeopathic remedy, to TREAT diarrhoea, vomiting and gastro.

This is how a number of medicines are used today. A substance that is capable of causing may also be capable of curing (dose dependant)! In a large dose some substances can cause illness, but in small/minute doses they can stimulate the healing response.

This is why homeopathy is based on energy rather than chemistry.

So you’ll notice homeopathic remedies have the name of the remedy, followed by a number, for example Arsenicum alb 6C or 30C. The 6C and 30C refer to the potency - how many times the remedy has been diluted and shaken.

What exactly is the potency…

Hahnemann, known as The Father of Homeopathy, devised a dilution method to stop side effects, which was completely unique to the harsh conventional method that were used in the late 1700s.

In homeopathy you take 1 part of the original substance and mix it with 99 parts alcohol to form a "1C" medicine. This process is repeated with 1 drop of the 1C and mixed with 99 parts alcohol to form a “2C” medicine, and this process is repeated a number of times, until the desired potency.

So a 6C remedy has been diluted and shaken 6 times. A 30C remedy has been diluted and shaken 30 times, and so on.

You might assume a higher potency means less effective, but that’s not the case. The higher potency = higher dilution = higher energy. Whereas the lower the potency = lower dilution = more of the original substance

Typically, you use lower potencies for physical conditions and higher potencies for more complex/deeper level/emotionally charged issues. For example, a number of birth related remedies come in a 200C, rather than a 6C, and this is because birth the energy is more intense.

Which potency do I choose…

The general rule of thumb is to stick with a 30C potency. This stimulates physical and mental healing. This is why most over the counter homeopathic remedies are sold as a 30C.

In my health aid first aid homeopathic kits I offer 18 remedies in a 6C, 30C and 200C, as different potencies are needed for different first aid situations. For example, Spongia is offered as a 6C because it’s an important remedy for acute related coughs including croupy coughs.

Remember, lower potency (lower number) = less diluted = more material of the original substance = more physical. This may be indicated for something acute and physcial such as a cough or worms. You tend to repeat lower potencies, such as 1-3 times daily, whereas you may use a higher potency once a week, or until symptoms ease.

Think of a bee sting - a popular homeopathic remedy to soothe bee sting signs and symptoms is Apis 6C or 30C, which you can take every 10-30 mins until symptoms ease. You wouldn’t take it as a high potency remedy once a week, because it doesn’t ‘fit’ with the symptom picture or desired outcome.

Remember, higher potency (higher number) = more diluted = none of the original substance = more emotional/mental. This may be indicated for something more constitutional such as chronic and recurring allergies.

In summary:

Low potency = 6C, 12 C

Medicum potency = 30C

High potency = 200C, 1M and above

Homeopathy really is a different form of medicine, isn’t it?! For more info or a specific homeopathic consultation, feel free to reach out to me.