L M Potency 

The historical background of 50-millesimal scale is deeply interwoven with that of the publication of the posthumous sixth edition of Organon of Medicine.

At the age of 86, Hahnemann with relentless zeal, while in active practice at Paris made thorough revision of Organon of Medicine. The sixth edition, he mentions “is the most perfect of all the methods of dynamization”.

Throughout life Hahnemann tried to accomplish cure rapidly, gently and permanently. His intention was to avoid unnecessary aggravation. For this purpose he conducted experimental research through clinical trials, and came to minimize the quantity of the dose with maximum results. In the 5th edition of Organon of Medicine he advised the use of aqueous solution with divided doses and gradual increase of succussions up to 10-12.

But the process of cure was not so rapid and the aggravation persisted specially in chronic cases. He had to deal with patients of unusually nervous excitability and found troublesome medicinal aggravation even after application of 30th potency of centesimal scale. It led him to further minimize the material quantity of drug substance. His relentless search for the pursuit of highest ideal of cure, as per § 2 finally bore fruit. The last 4-5 years of laborious research beamed a new light when he introduced the new scale with 100 succussions.

Every subsequent potency contains 1/50,000th part of the medicinal substance of previous one. The problem of aggravation is  solved by expanding the medium and making it gentle. There is no broad gap between the subsequent potencies as in centesimal where after 30th there is 200th, next 1M – then 10M, 50M, CM, DM etc. Instead we get a series starting from 0/1, then 0/2, 0/3, and onwards. This avoids the possible ‘jerks’, and helps in step-wise ascent in degrees, thus gradually raising the susceptibility of the patient.

Doses under new method cut short the time in both acute and chronic cases. Earlier he had mentioned in § 246 that a single dose of centesimal potency with slowly progressive improvement may finish up a chronic case within 40, 50, 60, or 100 days. However, as experience taught him, this period could be reduced to one-half, one-quarter and even lesser

Directions for dispensing

1. Direction to the physician

Take one brand new phial of 120/60/30 ml with new washer and cap. Pour distilled water as much as to divide in required doses of 16/8/7/4 or less and dissolve only one medicated globule of No. 10 of exact selected similimum in desire potency. To this solution add 10/8/5 drops of rectified spirit for preservation. Close the cap tightly and dispense as per direction.

2. Direction to the patient

Before taking the medicine each time give 10-12 downward succussions against your hard palm and put one dose (marked by the physician) with 3/4th cup of water and after thorough mixing take only one teaspoonful from it or as directed by the physician.