This document provides information about potentization in homeopathy. It begins with definitions of potentization from various homeopathic authorities and explains that it is a mathematico-mechanical process of diluting substances to increase their therapeutic power. The history of potentization dating back to Hahnemann is overviewed. The objectives and effects of potentization are described. The processes of trituration and succussion used to create potentized preparations are defined and their mechanics explained. The scales used to represent potency levels in homeopathy are introduced.

1. - DR. RADHIKA KHANDELWAL

2. OBJECTIVES
•To understand what is potentisation?
•To know the history of potentisation.
•To know the process of potentisation and the
advancement.

3. POTENTISATION – WORD
MEANING
•POTENTIAL – having or showing the capacity to
develop something in the future.
•POTENCY – the power of something to influence
or make and impression.
•POTENTIATE – increase the power, effect, or
likelihood of (something, especially a drug or
physiological reaction).

4. POTENTISATION DEFINITION
ACCORDING TO HOMOEOPATHIC
PHARMACOPOEIA OF INDIAAND BY DR.
MANDAL
It is a mathematico-mechanical process by virtue of
which the inherited dormant dynamic curative
power of drugs is aroused or increased by
modifying drug strength/drug power to dynamic
power through simultaneous and successive
process of dilution and friction in definite order.

5. POTENTISATION DEFINITION
ACCORDING TO DR. HAHNEMANN IN 5TH VOLUME OF
CHRONIC DISEASE
“Homoeopathic dynamisation are processes by which the
medicinal properties, which are latent in natural
substances while in their crude state, become aroused and
then become enabled to act in our life, i.e., in our sensible
and irritable fiber. This development of properties of
crude natural substances (dynamisation) takes place inn
the case of dry drug substances by means of trituration in
mortar, but in case of fluid substances by means of
shaking or succussion, which is also trituration.

6. POTENTISATION DEFINITION
ACCORDING TO DR. STUART CLOSE
“HOMOEOPATHIC DYNAMISATION is a
mathematico-mechanical process for the reduction,
according to scale, of crude, inert or poisonous
medicinal substances to a state of physical
solubility, physiological assimilability, and
therapeutic activity, and harmlessness, for use as
homoeopathic healing remedies.

7. POTENTISATION DEFINITION
ACCORDING TO DR. SUMIT GOEL (ART AND
SCIENCE OF HOMOEOPATHIC PHARMACY)
Homoeopathic Dynamisation are process by which
the medicinal properties that are latent in natural
substances while in their crude state, become
aroused and then become enabled to act in an
almost spiritual manner on our life, i.e. on our
sensible and irritable fibre.

8. HISTORY OF POTENTISATION
•1799 – Announced with out any particular
explanation very small and so called
INFINITESIMAL DOSES.
•1805 – His article “MEDICINE OF EXPERIENCE”
on HUFELAND’S JOURNAL mentioned about 100th,
1000th or 1000000th part of medicinal dose.
•1810 – ORGANON OF MEDICINE (1ST EDITION)
he wrote – “When I speak of the smallest possible
dose in homoeopathic therapy, I cannot establish a
chart of weight and measures of medicines, because
the medicines themselves are so varied in strength.

9. HISTORY OF POTENTISATION
•1814 – “TREATMENT OF THE TYPHUS OR
HOSPITAL FEVER AT PRESENT
PREVAILING,” where he mentioned about
dilution of Bryonia and Rhus tox.
•1816-1819 – Dosage range from 1/100; 1/1000;
1/50000 part of grain.
•1822- MATERIA MEDICA PURA (2nd EDITION
VOLUME I) states 30C dilution.

10. HISTORY OF POTENTISATION
•1825 – Dr. Hahnemann stated these preparations as
DYNAMISATION/POTENTISATION.
•1829 – Declared 30 C as STANDARD POTENCY.
•1835 – Detailed description of process of
TRITURATION for first 3 centesimal dilution of
insoluble medicinal substance in CHRONIC
DISEASE.
•1837 – Remedies in centesimal scale increased
succussions at each step to 10.

11. HISTORY OF POTENTISATION
•1839 – Final Instructions of Potentisation in
CHRONIC DISEASES (VOLUME 5).
•Latest method of Potentisation of drugs are
recorded in APHORIMS 270 – 272 in ORGANON
OF MEDICINE (6TH EDITION).

12. OBJECTS OF POTENTISATION
•Avoid unnecessary aggravation.
•Arousal of medicinal powers.
•Toxic/poisonous property can be reduced.
•Preserves therapeutic potentiality.
•Substances inert in crude form becomes active.
•More the drug is potentised more is the dynamic
power.

13. EFFECTS OF POTENTISATION
•Quantitative reduction but qualitative increase of
therapeutic property.
•Increase in potential energy – determined by
different scales.
•Elimination of toxic products.
•Gaining of maximum potential energy and
dynamic power.

14. PHENOMENON OF
POTENTISATION
•Dilution –
•Word meaning – Weakening or reducing the
concentration.
•Friction –
•Word meaning – Effort expended in moving one object
over another with pressure.

15. FACTORS OF POTENTISATION
• Nature of drug.
•Solvent or vehicle.
RELATION BETWEEN THE FACTORS –
1. SOLID VEHICLE: Sugar of milk, used for
insoluble drugs.
2. LIQUID VEHICLE:
1. C2H20H – used for drugs soluble in liquid vehicle.
2. Purified water – used in preparing potency.
3. Dispensing alcohol – in some cases.

16. PROCESSESS OF
POTENTISATION
1. TRIURATION –
In case of insoluble substances.
2. SUCCUSSION –
In case of soluble substances.

17. SCALES AND POTENCY OF
POTENSTISATION
1. FOR TRITURATION –
1. Centesimal scale – 30, 200, 1M., C.M., M.M….
2. Decimal scale – 1X, 2X,3X, 6X, 12X….
2. FOR SUCCUSSION -
1. Centesimal scale – 30, 200, 1M., C.M., M.M….
2. Decimal scale – 1X, 2X,3X, 6X, 12X….
3. 50-Millesimal scale – 0/1, 0/2, 0/3, 0/4….

19. TRITURATION
DEFINITION
ACCORDING TO HOMOEOPATHIC
PHARMACOPEIA OF INDIA
•It is an ideal physical, mathematical process of
potentisation by which preparation of medicines
takes place by the use of solid vehicle, i.e., sugar of
milk by grinding in definite order.
•Potencies made by trituration are up to – 3C in
centesimal scale and 50-Millesimal scale; 6X in
decimal scale.
•Vehicle used – Sugar of Milk

20. SUBSTANCES TAKEN FOR
TRITURATION
As per Old Method of Preparation –
•CLASS VII – Dry; Insoluble (Insoluble in purified
water and alcohol) E.g. Arsenic Album.
•CLASS VIII – Liquid; Insoluble. E.g. Snake
venoms (Lachesis)
•CLASS IX – Fresh vegetable and animal
substances; Insoluble. E.g. Anacardium Orientale.

21. 60
MINUTES
20
MINUTES
10
MINUTES
10
MINUTES
20
MINUTES
10
MINUTES
10
MINUTES
20
MINUTES
10
MINUTES
10
MINUTES
TIME
DISTRIBUTION

22. 10 MINUTES
6 MINUTES
(RUBBING)
3 MINUTES
(SCRAPPING)
1 MINUTE
(MIXING)
ACCORDING TO
DR.HAHNEMANN

23. 10 MINUTES
6 MINUTES
(RUBBING)
4 MINUTES
(STIRRING)
ACCORDING
TO H.P.I.

24. PROCESS OF TRITURATION
CLASS VII
•DRUG VEHICLE RATIO –
•DECIMAL SCALE – 1: 9 (3+3+3) (By Dr. Hahnemann)
1: 99 (1+3+5) (In H.P.I.)
•CENTESIMAL SCALE – 1:99(33+33+33)
(By Dr. Hahnemann)
1: 99 (11+33+55) (In H.P.I.)

25. PROCESS OF TRITURATION –
CLASS VII (ACCORDING TO DR.
HAHNEMANN)
DECIMAL SCALE
• PRINCIPLE – 1 part of drug
substance is triturated with 9
parts of sugar of milk. All
subsequent potencies are
prepared by taking 1 part of
previous one and 9 parts of
sugar of milk.
• DURATION – Whole process
takes 60 minutes divided in 20
minutes which is further
divided in to 10 minutes and
then 6,3,1 minutes
respectively.
CENTESIMAL SCALE
• PRINCIPLE - 1 part of drug
substance is triturated with 99
parts of sugar of milk. All
subsequent potencies are
prepared by taking 1 part of
previous one and 99 parts of
sugar of milk.
• DURATION - Whole process
takes 60 minutes divided in 20
minutes which is further
divided in to 10 minutes and
then 6,3,1 minutes
respectively.

26. PROCESS OF TRITURATION –
CLASS VII (ACCORDING TO H.P.I.)
DECIMAL SCALE
• PRINCIPLE – 1 part of drug
substance is triturated with 9
parts of sugar of milk. All
subsequent potencies are
prepared by taking 1 part of
previous one and 9 parts of
sugar of milk.
• DURATION – Whole process
takes 60 minutes divided in 20
minutes which is further
divided in to 10 minutes and
then 6 and 4 minutes
respectively.
CENTESIMAL SCALE
• PRINCIPLE - 1 part of drug
substance is triturated with 99
parts of sugar of milk. All
subsequent potencies are
prepared by taking 1 part of
previous one and 99 parts of
sugar of milk.
• DURATION - Whole process
takes 60 minutes divided in 20
minutes which is further
divided in to 10 minutes and
then 6 and 4 minutes
respectively.

27. PROCESS OF TRITURATION
CLASS VIII
•DRUG VEHICLE RATIO –
•DECIMAL SCALE – 1: 9 (By Dr. Hahnemann)
•CENTESIMAL SCALE – 1:99 (By Dr. Hahnemann)
NOTE : The vehicles should not be divided in to 3
parts because the vehicle quantity will be less for
preventing sticking of oily medicinal substance in
surface of mortar.

28. PROCESS OF TRITURATION
CLASS IX
•DRUG VEHICLE RATIO –
•DECIMAL SCALE – 2: 9 (By Dr. Hahnemann)
•CENTESIMAL SCALE – 2:99 (By Dr. Hahnemann)
NOTE : 2 parts of drug substances is taken because
there is always some loss of evaporation during
trituration because of fresh drug substances are used.

29. FACTORS AFFECTING SIZE
REDUCTION
•Hardness
•Toughness
•Abrasiveness
•Stickiness
•Slipperiness

30. MERITS OF TRITURATION
• Drug substance can be definitely divided.
• In soluble substances in liquid vehicles becomes
soluble after trituration.
• The medicinal property is aroused.
• Qualitative power is increased by reducing
quantity.
• Surface tension is increased enormously,
absorption, colloidal properties, catalytic effects is
also increased.

31. DEMERITS OF TRITURATION
• Very long process.
• Labour spent is much.
• Sugar of milk has aldehyde properties, some drug
substances are reduced.
• Sugar of milk is hard and gritty, it does not cause
communion of substances harder then itself.

32. CONVERSION OF TRITURATION IN
TO LIQUID POTENCY
•Potency to be used – 3C in centesimal scale.
6X in decimal scale.
• Trituration below this potency is not possible
because there are not soluble in alcohol or in
purified water.
• First liquid potency – In centesimal scale – 4C.
In decimal scale – 8X.

33. CONVERSION OF 3C TRITURATION
IN TO LIQUID POTENCY
50 drops of Distilled water
+
1 grain of 3C trituration
(READILY DISSOLVED)
+
50 Dispensing alcohol
+
10 downward strokes of succussion
=
4C Potency

34. CONVERSION OF 3C TRITURATION
IN TO LIQUID POTENCY
FOR 5C POTENCY =
1 drop of 4C potency
+
99 drops of dispensing alcohol
+
10 stokes of succussion
=
5C potency
NOTE – Further potencies are prepared by 1:99 of drug
vehicle ratio.

35. IMPORTANCE OF 3C
TRITURATION
•More powerful action.
•More perfect medicines.
•Trituration of fresh plant material.
•Retaining all natural constituents.
•Shelf life guaranteed.
•3C – standard method for 50 Millesimial scale.

36. CONVERSION OF 6X TRITURATION IN
LIQUID POTENCY (JUMPING POTENCY)
1 grain of 6X potency
+
50 drops of purified water (READILY DISSOLVED)
+
50 drops of dispensing alcohol
+
10 downward stokes of succussion
=
8X potency
NOTE – Further potencies will be prepared by 1:9 drug vehicle
ratio.

37. JUMPING POTENCY
•According to decimal scale 7X potency cannot be prepared
because if we take 9 parts of alcohol and 1 grain of 6X potency,
then it wont be dissolved. It is also known as FLUXION
POTENCY.
• For it to get dissolve –
50 parts of purified water
+
50 parts alcohol
=
100
=
10 X 10

39. INTRODUCTION
• TERMINOLOGY –
Comes from a Latin word – SUCCUSSUM,
SUCCUTERE which means ‘SHAKING UP.’
• SUBSTANCES TAKEN FOR SUCCUSSION –
• Medicinal substances that are soluble in alcohol or
distilled water.
• Substances belonging to Classes I – IV (tinctures) and
class V and VI (solution) of Old Method.

40. SUCCUSSION - DEFINITION
ACCORDING TO HOMOEOPATHIC
PHARMACOPEIA OF INDIA
It is a process of potentisation by which preparation of
medicine takes place by the use of a liquid vehicle like
alcohol or water, by shaking in a definite method.
Vehicle used –
Alcohol – Class I – IV
Distilled water – Class V
Dispensing alcohol – Class VI

41. SUCCUSSION - DEFINITION
ACCORDING TO DR. MANDAL
(A TEXTBOOK OF HOMOEOPATHIC
PHARMACY)
It is a process of potentisation of medicinal
substances which are soluble in liquid vehicle
(particularly in alcohol) by downward friction.

42. SUCCUSSION - MECHANICS
DECIMAL SCALE
• PRINCIPLE – I part drug
substance/previous potency
+ 9 parts of alcohol/distilled
water + 10 downward
strokes of uniform strength.
CENTESIMAL SCALE
• PRINCIPLE – 1 part drug
substance/previous potency
+ 99 parts of
alcohol/distilled water + 10
downward strokes of
uniform strength.

45. POTENCY
•TERMINOLOGY –
It is derived from word POTENCIA which
means power in the sense of ability, capacity.
•DEFINITION (ACCORDING TO DR. MANDAL
AND DR. GOEL) –
Potency denotes power which is derived by
the grades of medicinal power as developed by
process of dynamisation are called Homoeopathic
Potencies in different grades.
POTENCY = Dilution + Energy.

46. POTENCY - REPRESTATION
DECIMAL SCALE
• Denoted by ‘X’ or ‘D’
suffixed to the numerical i.e.
1X or 1D.
• EXAMPLE –
Cinchona 6X – It
means it is potentised 6
times in decimal scale.
CENTESIMAL SCALE
• Denoted by ‘C’ or ‘CH’
suffixed to the numerical i.e.
1C or 1CH.
• EXAMPLE –
Cinchona 6C – It means
it is potentised 6 times in
centesimal scale.

47. HIGH FLUXION POTENCY
Liquid attenuations by hand process can be made
up to 1M. But for making higher potencies like
10M, 50M, CM, MM etc, requires much alcohol,
labour and time. To combat this problem many
homoeopaths have invented machines. Such higher
potencies which are prepared with the help of
machines are known as HIGH FLUXION
POTENCY.

48. STRAIGHT POTENCY
AS PER BURT OF LONDON –
7X liquid potency can be prepared from its
previous 6X trituration.
METHOD –
1 part 6X trituration
+
9 parts of purified water
+
10 downward strokes
=
7X liquid potency.

49. Q POTENCY
Q potency is the term used to designate 50M
potency.

50. BACK POTENCY
•DEFINITON –
Two or three potencies prior to the frequently
used potencies are called Back Potency.
• EXAMPLE –
For 30C potency, back potencies are – 29C,
28C, 27C.
•UTILITY –
It has great advantage for the manufacturer to
prepare large quantities of medicines.

52. MODERN POTENTISATION
TECHNIQUE
Dr. Gross, Dr. Schreter, General Korsakoff of
Russia were the real founders of theory of high
potency which later on found an industrious and
zealous protagonist in Stapf.

53. GENERAL KORSAKOFF OF
RUSSIA
•He developed a notion that one single medicated
globule when placed among many non-medicated
globules communicate its medicinal power to the
non-medicated globules.
•He claimed that all these globules are been
medically activated and that there medicinal
strength was almost equal to that of original
globule.

54. JENICHEN OF WISMAR
•Caspar Juilus Jenichen advocated that the degree
of strength developed through potentisation was
directly proportional to number of strokes given.
•He suggested that every 10 strokes given would
increase the dynamic strength of medicine by one
degree.

55. CARROLL DUNHAM
• By means of strong oaken
receptacles, bolted firmly
to the stampers, 120 vials
were succussed at a time
with 125 succussion given
at a time. The Dunham
potencies were given to
Smith’s Pharmacy in New
York City, several doctors
inherited potencies
marked as 200D.

56. BERNHARDT FINCKE
•His original potencies were made by hand in
Korsakovian manner. He was granted a patent for a
new potentizing process that of FLUXION.
•The important concept in this method is that the walls
of glass vial have absorbed the medicinal substances.
Potentisation is not achieved by dilution but rather
attenuation.
•Two variants of Fincke Apparatus –
•First uses a measured amount of diluents.
•Connects the regulator directly to a tap and measures
amount of water that has emptied the vial.

57. BERNHARDT FINCKE
• FLUXION PROCESS –
A one dram vial filled
with a hand made 30C
potency is subjected to
continuous water flow, using
a log glass tube called
REGULATOR, the water
flows from the bottom of the
vial, displacing water above
it. When one dram of water
has flowed through the vial
the potency was considered
to have raised by one degree.

58. THOMAS SKINNER
•Skinner’s potencies were prepared by a process of
discontinuous fluxion in contrast to the continuous
fluxion of Swan and Fincke.
•In 1878, Skinner developed ‘SKINNER FLUSION
CENTESIMAL ATTENUATOR.’ This device was
designed to mount above a small sink in office or
home. The motive power was water pressure.
•The potencies were labeled as ‘F.C.’ i.e. FLUXION
CENTESIMAL to differentiate from Hahnemann’s
Centesimal.

59. THOMAS SKINNER

60. SAMUEL SWAN
•He used fractional part of potencies and attenuated
from them. He suggested that if 1 drop of mother
tincture were used to make 1M potency, then 1/10th
of a drop of 1M would be used to make 10M.
•This method had more to do with the dilution of
final potency, rather than the serial dilution of each
potency along the way.

61. MULTIPLE/SINGLE VIAL
POTENCIES
METHOD OF POTENTISATION ACCORDING
TO GERMAN HOMOEOPATHIC
PHARMACOPOEIA –
Requires a new vial for every stage of
potentisation which is original method of Dr.
Hahnemann. It is known as HAHNEMANN’s
MULTIPLE VIAL METHOD.