Letters to the Editor
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 Jan / Feb VOL VIII NO 1.

Ref: Article "Keys open Pandora's Box" in Keynotes.issue
This sends the wrong signals in the minds of classical Homoeopaths as well as Neophytes. The particular para "this led me to consider, explore and then prescribe Caladium 200 4 pills QDS and stop when the complaint was reduced."

This statement is sufficient to upset a healthy digestion. If the patient is of the constitution of Caladium, then Caladium 200 one pill only once is sufficient to cure or reduce the complaints. Why to give 200 potency QDS until the complaint was reduced. Will not it become a case of over drugging? Will not the child prove the symptoms of Caladium? Does this statement follow the rules of prescribing a correct Homoeopathy, which stands on - single medicine and minimum dose.

According to principle of similimum
Dr Kent says in "Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica" Page 637 under Kali-iodatum, first paragraph
"The medicines that are most powerful substances are really those that sustain a Homoeopathic relation to the disease in general, and of these the very smallest dose will cure when similar. When the remedy is not similar enough to cure in such a form, the increasing of the dose does not make it Homoeopathic. There is an idea in vogue that increasing the dose makes the remedy similar. That is going away from the principle if there is no form of the dose that make it similar."
Dr Arvind Vij President IIHP Khanna Unit

Dr Rashmi Nagar replies
I agree with Dr Vij that increasing the dose does not make a medicine similar. There was no intention to send wrong signals. I must clarify the fact that I spend enough time to explain to my patients about how they should take the medicine and not to repeat the dose if there is 80% relief or there is any aggravation or skin eruption - especially when single dose is not given.

In the given case the complaint is of few days standing and perceived like an acute complaint hence the repetition.

To quote from "Principles and practice of Homoeopathy" by Dr M L Dhawale (pg 412) "Acute cases: the action of a remedy is known to exhaust early, therefore, frequent repetitions are indicated. As the response is obtained, the frequency is cut down progressively so that the dose tapers gradually."

Single dose, single medicine is every Homoeopath's dream and of course ideal but one can only think backwards and understand what would have happened with a single dose?

1. there might have been before
2. status quo
3. simple amelioration
4. less severe aggravation

1. complaint reduced
2. the direction of cure was right
3. there is elimination process
4. after the skin eruption-no further medicine was given
5. there was no medicinal aggravation

1. Amelioration
2. Elimination
3. Herring's Law

Many times one has observed that indicated medicine in single dose results results in status quo and the same medicines by a senior Homoeopath given in adequately repeated doses have shown better results.

There has been a healthy debate amongst stalwarts and some have admitted to continuing to give the medicine 2-3 days after a complete cure.

I am of the firm opinion that no master can teach you - they can only guide you for sure but one must not defy the matter as J Krishnamurthy guided. We have to find our own inner guidance.

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