Frequent Repetition of High Potencies
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2000 Nov / Dec VOL II NO 6.
Compiled by:
T K Kasiviswanathan
'Calc-fl / Apis / Rhus-t / Anat-tart / Merc-cor / Cic / Aur-met / Op
Normally homoeopaths are careful in using high potencies ie 1M and above. They are repeated in a case only after a sufficient lapse of time and when the previous dose had accomplished all it can. There are/were however some Homoeopaths like Bellokossy, Dr Borland and Dr M B Desai who repeated high potencies in cases with good results. Dr Desai writes as under:
"We have been taught that the single dose infrequently repeated is the ideal. We have also been warned that high potencies can be very dangerous. But by using high potencies and repeating them more frequently, I have noticed that I am able to get better results without meeting any bad effects. I have experienced this to such an extent that I have now made it a practice to use high potencies in frequent repetition. This theory can be well understood only if the disease process, the meaning of cure and the mode of action of the medicine are fully comprehended."
He adds that the hereditary and acquired conditions of a disease are kept dormant in the background in the system, constantly straining against the natural resistance, to become manifest at any available opportunity. The prescription should not be content with relieving the apparent symptoms but to reach the background and eradicate the disease fully. It can be done by giving constant aid to the resistance with medical impetus.
So long as there is sufficient scope to affect the dormant disease condition, the impetus given by repetition in any amount, he says, will be absorbed by the vital force as required, so as to assist in the elimination of the background; there is therefore no chance of medicinal aggravation. He cites the views of Dr Borland of UK that high potencies can be repeated in acute conditions, CM every two hours. (Dr Borland's views are reproduced later in this article). As high potencies have a deeper action than low ones, they create a condition whereby the disease force is made to lose its influence and to retreat.
"The remedy linked potency in frequent repetition is essential to root out suppression, to avoid the development of Sequelae, to keep open the channel of elimination, to do away with overlapping of disease conditions, to avoid the creation of tendencies, to do away with complexes, to effect constitutional changes, to organize tissue building, to stop wasting and rejuvenate the system. This theory has helped me to deal with scores of obstinate cases of tuberculosis, paralysis, nephritis, epilepsy, insanity, diabetes and other dangerous diseases with ease and surety. If this theory is introduced into the practice of Homoeopathy with courage and proper guidance, it can positively enhance the progress of our science. This method does not allow any patchwork in the system; one by one the complexes and unhealthy impressions in the system are eliminated and the ultimate aim of overhauling of the system is achieved."
"I am aware that many orthodox homoeopaths will raise their eyebrows at this method of practice. It is true that in the later part of his life, Hahnemann was repeating remedies more frequently and advising such repetition. In the Sixth Edition of Organon, he wrote that in chronic diseases the remedy might be repeated every day till the patient is cured. I therefore suggest that my experiences should be viewed in the light of this background."
(Extracted from an article of Dr Desai published in Principles of Prescribing by Dr K N Mathur)
Unfortunately Dr Desai does not appear to have left behind any published record of his cures of various chronic conditions with frequent repetition of high potencies, though case records might still be available. However, Dr Desai dealt with treatment of different coma cases with Homoeopathy in a lecture, which was subsequently published as a booklet. In that lecture he said that "Different individuals showing the same pathological conditions will have different well-marked peculiarities manifested under different sets of backgrounds.
Secondly, however simple, complicated or grave the condition may be, we have to sort out the exact disease phenomenon from the cluster of symptoms assembled together from three different items, viz: 1) the symptoms produced under general resistance called corroborating symptoms. 2) The possible symptoms of elimination, and 3) the symptoms of actual disease process. Knowledge of these conditions will create an understanding of the exact disease condition and will thereby simplify the prescription.
After having properly understood the disease condition, which has developed on a particular background, it will be quite clear that our patient has to pass through a series of conditions or stages while eradicating the disease condition by way of elimination. This puts an end to the miracle one dose shot, which simply effects a palliation or a deviation of the condition to something else or a temporary surface management of the ailment. The proper understanding of the disease condition can enable us to predict the series of situations that may intervene during the cure".
Dr Desai in that booklet had illustrated his approach with several cases of coma treated with the use of frequent repetition of high potencies of the remedy. He has in that process given some clinical tips which are reproduced below before some of his illustrative cases are presented.
Dr Desai gave importance to the miasmatic background as one of the causative backgrounds for the disease and recommends specific remedies for eradicating that layer.
Syphilitic Background:
History of abortions in mother, a history of insanity in the family, personal history of dysentery, stomatitis, tonsillitis, ottorrhoea and mumps indicate this background and can be covered by Syphilinum, Aurum-met, Merc-sol and Zinc-met.
Dr Desai advocates that for the condition of coma under syphilitic background a few doses of Syphilinum very high ie CM at intervals of half an hour will show beneficial effect within a few hours. It should not be used where there are heart or lungs are involved with organic complications. It should be followed up till there is continuous improvement and thereafter by prescribing the indicated remedy.
Similarly Aurum-met and Merc-sol should be given when indicated in high potency at ½ hour intervals till reactions are manifest.
Sycotic Background: It is indicated by a history of rheumatism or gout, warts, neuralgias, vaccination, small pox, sinusitis, etc. In his experience Thuja is the only medicine to clear away this background in a case of coma and it can run well till complete recovery.
A few cases of his including coma cases where he adopted this practice are given below for information and understanding his approach.
Case 1: Of Osteomyelitis
A well-known surgeon advised immediate amputation of the affected leg of a girl, aged 7. The girl was chilly, had bad teeth, history of attack of small pox two months back. The osteomyelitis had affected the long bone. She could not take cold drinks and was better with warm/ hot drinks. She was brought to Dr MB Desai for treatment. It was a question of life and death. In all seriousness Dr Desai prescribed Calc-flour CM daily two doses. The inflammation, fever and the pain subsided gradually. The repairs to the bone were noticed through X-rays taken periodically and within three months of such a treatment total rejuvenation of the decayed bone was evident.
Case 2: Coma Case
A girl aged 8, used to get high temperature and became totally unconscious on the third day. The eyes were red. There were sudden cries and she used to toss her head involuntarily. The skin on the forehead became red with a raised band about two inches broad.
Dr Desai prescribed Apis 1M 8 doses per day and for two days there was no change. Taking the mother's history he noted that she had four abortions and that she also had paralysis of left leg with dementia and the girl patient was therefore given Merc-sol CM four doses daily. Within two days she got free urination and the restlessness became less. Apis-mel 1M 8 doses were then given daily. Restlessness disappeared on the next day and the red band on the forehead moved down and disappeared after 13 days. There was no temperature on the fifth day. She recovered.
Dr Desai observes "It is the toxemia of the brain which begins with delirium, passes into stupor with convulsions and affects the senses one by one and ends in coma. So only the total elimination of the toxins can assure the complete cure by bringing all the senses back to normal condition one by one in the reverse order of the affection. This condition, when not properly treated by steady repetition, leaves behind its sequele in proportion to the toxicity left over.
Case 3
A boy had acute cold with fever. Rhus-tox 1M four doses did not give relief. The next day the boy began to cough severely with pain in the chest. The tongue was coated white and he had little thirst. Antim-tart 1M every four hours did not help. There was extreme prostration and the patient became unconscious on the fifth day. He began to pass dysenteric stools involuntarily and in small quantities frequently. On this last symptom, Dr Desai prescribed Merc-cor 1M every two hours. The quantity of stools increased with free passage of flatus.
By 10th day the passing of such stools was checked but as the other conditions persisted, the prescription was again changed to Antim-tart 1M. This time the temperature came down to normal within 24 hours and there was considerable relief of pain in the chest. The mental condition came to normal within four days. It was observed that the boy had mumps six months earlier and it was treated with external application. The simple cold developed into pneumonia and subsequently to coma by the dominant background of mumps. Dr Deasi says that he has used Mercury for pneumonia several times with success on the strength of such background and mercurial tongue and history of dysentery or stomatitis.
