Homeopathy Principle of Dilution

The Principle of Dilution in Homeopathy is related with the process known as "dynamization" or "potentization", where a remedy is diluted in alcohol or water. It is then shaken vigorously against an elastic body, the process of which is known as succussion. Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy, realized that the remedies prepared produce symptoms similar to the disease. Therefore, powerful dose of the remedy will further aggravate the disease. As a result, he advocated that the remedy should be diluted to the extent, where the symptoms of the disease fail to be experienced.

This explains the Law of Principle of Dilution. Homeopaths are of the view that during the process of potentization, the vital energy of the diluted substance is activated, which is released by the vigorous shaking. Thus, for this purpose Hahnemann used a special wooden striking board, covered with leather and horse hair on one side. However, insoluble substances like quartz and oyster shell are diluted by grinding them with lactose. This process is known as trituration.

Following the principle of dilution there are three potency scales in use by the Homeopathic practitioners. Hahnemann pioneered and always preferred the centesimal or "C scale". According to the C scale, 1 part of a substance is diluted in 100 parts of diluent, at each stage. Consequently, a 2C dilution is the one where one part of a substance is diluted to one hundred part and then one part of the diluted solution is again diluted to one hundred part. This puts it to, one part of the substance to ten thousand part of the diluent.

All the solutions follow the same pattern under the C scale. Thus, in homeopathy the more dilute the solution, the higher its potency. Also, higher potencies are considered to be stronger deep acting remedies. However, Hahnemann advocated 30C dilutions for most purposes (a dilution by a factor of 1060). With this it is agreeable, that on an average a 12C solution contains only about one molecule of the original substance. Considering such high levels of dilution, it is convincing that homeopathic remedies contain overwhelming quantities of only water (or alcohol).

Whatever might be the case, homeopathic practitioners are of the strong belief that these water solutions retrieve few 'essential property' of the original substance, as a result of the shaking after each dilution. Even Hahnemann was of the belief that the process of dynamization, releases a "spirit like" healing force from within the substance. According to this school of thought, even if each and every molecule of the substance is removed from the water, its spiritual healing force still remains intact.

Later, some homeopaths developed a decimal scale (D or X), which puts down, diluting a substance to ten times its original volume at each stage. Thus, decimal scale dilution is half as compared to C scale. Though Hahnemann never used this scale, it was widely popularly in the 19th century and is still in use in Europe. During the last ten years of his life, Hahnemann also developed a scale called quintamillesimal (Q) or LM scale, which employed diluting a 1 part of drug in 50,000 parts of diluent. Therefore, a Q scale dilution is 2.35 times that of a C scale one.