CCH Potency Selection & Dosing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following patient factors most strongly suggests the use of a higher potency in classical homeopathy?
- Advanced age with multiple organ pathology
- Clear, well-defined mental and emotional symptom picture (Correct answer)
- Gross structural pathology present for decades
- History of previous strong aggravations to remedies
Correct answer: Clear, well-defined mental and emotional symptom picture
A clear, individualized mental-emotional symptom picture indicates the vital force can respond to deeper, higher-potency stimulation.
Question 2: In ascending LM dosing, the practitioner moves to the next LM potency when:
- Exactly 30 days have passed since the last dose
- The current potency ceases to produce improvement or begins to cause aggravation (Correct answer)
- The patient reports complete cure of all physical symptoms
- Three bottles of the current LM have been used
Correct answer: The current potency ceases to produce improvement or begins to cause aggravation
Ascending through LM potencies occurs when the current potency stops producing improvement or begins to aggravate, signaling the need for a higher degree of dynamization.
Question 3: A 'homeopathic aggravation' following a well-chosen remedy most commonly indicates:
- The wrong remedy has been given
- The potency was too low for the patient's sensitivity
- The remedy is acting correctly and the vital force is responding (Correct answer)
- The remedy should be antidoted immediately with coffee
Correct answer: The remedy is acting correctly and the vital force is responding
A brief, temporary aggravation of existing symptoms after a well-indicated remedy typically signals a correct prescription and an active vital force response.
Question 4: According to Hahnemann, the number of succussions applied between doses in LM administration should:
- Always be exactly 100 succussions
- Vary based on the patient's weight and age
- Be consistent — typically 8-12 per Hahnemann's own notes (Correct answer)
- Increase progressively with each ascending LM level
Correct answer: Be consistent — typically 8-12 per Hahnemann's own notes
Hahnemann's own case notes indicate he typically used 8-12 succussions to slightly modify the potency between doses, though this number can be adjusted based on sensitivity.
Question 5: Which potency is most appropriate when treating a patient with suppressed symptoms, deep pathology, and a strong constitution?
- 3X or 6X to gently restore drainage
- 6C to avoid overwhelming the system
- 200C or higher to penetrate deep-seated pathology (Correct answer)
- Mother tincture for direct organ support
Correct answer: 200C or higher to penetrate deep-seated pathology
Deep pathology in a strong constitution can often respond to high potencies (200C+) which act more profoundly on the vital force to address suppressed and deeply seated conditions.
Question 6: The term 'plussing' in homeopathic dosing refers to:
- Adding multiple remedies to a single dose
- Adding the remedy to water and succussing before each dose to slightly raise potency (Correct answer)
- Using plus (+) potencies above 10M
- Combining constitutional and acute remedies simultaneously
Correct answer: Adding the remedy to water and succussing before each dose to slightly raise potency
'Plussing' means adding a pellet to water and succussing between doses to slightly modify and raise the potency, a technique used to prevent adaptation and reduce aggravation.
Question 7: When treating an acute illness in a patient who is also under constitutional treatment, the acute remedy should generally be:
- The same as the constitutional remedy at a higher potency
- A remedy selected solely on the acute symptom picture (Correct answer)
- Avoided entirely to prevent interfering with the constitutional remedy
- Selected from the same miasmatic family as the constitutional remedy
Correct answer: A remedy selected solely on the acute symptom picture
Acute prescribing in classical homeopathy is based on the totality of the acute symptoms, which may differ entirely from the chronic constitutional picture.
CCH Potency Selection & Dosing 3
Which of the following patient factors most strongly suggests the use of a higher potency in classical homeopathy?