Fundamentals of Homotoxicology: Potency Chords

It is well known that the practice of homeopathy originated in the 1800's with Hahnemann and was based upon a lengthy series of "provings" (case studies).

I find it interesting that in today's world conventional medicine finds "case studies" an acceptable term for serious consideration but refers to holistic case studies as "anecdotal" and not worthy of attention.

Most homeopaths agree that low dilutions of a remedy produce an action that is quick, superficial and brief, while the action produced by high dilutions is a slow, penetrating, and lasting one.

Three problems frequently arise when applying single potencies:

The difficulty in determining the varying duration's of action and the different ranges of action of the various potencies of the same remedy.
The challenge of choosing the appropriate potency for the particular case.
The problem of the initial aggravation of the patients condition.

In homeopathy an "aggravation" refers to an initial deterioration in the patients condition as a reaction to the appropriate remedy. While the symptoms appear to change for the worse, the patient's general state of health improves. Aggravations are more often found with the low potency remedies.

Kent put the problem of the right potency in concrete terms: "We have never claimed that every potency fits every patient. The potency must be in accordance with the patients condition, and be intended to act on a level identical to that of the disease whenever possible."

With homeopathic "potency chords", the problems referred to above may be simplified in part, or even eliminated entirely. Potency chords refers to a balanced mixture of several homeopathic potencies of the same basic material.

When applying homeopathic potency chords, a faster and broader response of the organism is to be expected. Functional portions of a pathologic process will be reached by the quick-acting low potencies, whereas at the same time, constitutional and mental portions of a pathological process will be reached by the slow-acting high potencies.

H.H. Reckeweg described this multiple action as follows: "For the principle of the balanced potency, the leading idea is that different potencies will reach different defense systems."

The idea of using homeopathic potency chords was first mentioned by the Spanish physician Cahis in 1913. He stated that in his experience: "One may be sure that the action is a milder one, the individual doses may be repeated more frequently and if it is necessary, as it often happens, they may be given over a prolonged period of time."

O. Julian (author of "Materia Medica de Nosoden--Heidelberg, 1983) reported on the application of various potencies of one and the same homeopathic remedy, specifically the nosodes. He stated that: "The action of the potency chords is faster, of greater intensity, longer-lasting, and less connected with adverse reactions."

A particularly impressive proof of the superior efficacy of homeopathic potency chords of phosphorus, as compared to that of the respective single potencies, was furnished by D. Gomez (1992).

In an animal study (mice) he verified the effects of using phosphorus 10x, 30x, 200x, and 1000x as single remedies and a balanced potency chord of the same potencies, on an induced liver intoxication.

By measuring the liver-specific enzymes SGOT and SGPT as well as examination of the hepatic tissue, it was possible to furnish proof of a therapeutic effect of the administered potencies of phosphorus. What was particularly striking was the fact that the balanced potency proved to have a better protective effect than any of the four single potencies.

Balanced potencies are characterized by the following special features:

Faster action
Action of greater intensity
Doses may be repeated, in spite of high potencies included
No decrease in action in case of administration over a prolonged period of time, as usually occurs in case of single potencies
Fewer cases of deterioration in the patient's condition
Grades of potentiation conserve their specific action
Extension of the range of action
Both organic disturbances and mental impairments may be controlled
Both chronic (high potencies) and acute phases of disease (low potencies) are covered

Summary: Homeopathic potency chords represent not only a simplification of remedy selection but are also often therapeutically superior to the single potencies. This superiority expresses itself by a longer-lasting therapeutic result and by a better tolerance, especially due to the lack of healing aggravations. Balanced potencies permit the treatment of both the immediate disorder and the constitutional situation, so their administration produces a longer-lasting effect than that of a series of single potencies.