aggravation – intensification of the disease symptoms previously observed that is marked. Often associated with the action of a well indicated homeopathic remedy.
antidote – a substance, or a remedy, that counteracts the effect of a homeopathic remedy. High temperatures are thought to antidote remedies
cell salts (biochemic remedies, tissue salts) – a homeopathic physician, W.H. Schuessler, developed the Biochemic system using 12 different ‘cell salts’. Schuessler felt these were fundamental to the proper function of the human body. Prepared in low potency, most commonly 6x and used based on homeopathic indications.
centesimal – one of three potency scales, yet most common, used in homeopathic pharmacy. It was the first potency developed by Hahnemann. 1 part medicinal substance (dry or tincture), mixed with 99 parts diluent (lactose or alcohol), and then succussed (shaken), yields the 1c potency. Taking 1 part of that potency mixed with 99 parts diluent, then succussed, yields the 2c potency. This is continued until the desired potency is reached. A 200c has gone through this process 200 times. A 1M potency has gone through this process 1,000 times. The higher the potency, the stronger the stimulation of the vital force.
characteristic symptom – a symptom that is ‘striking, strange, rare, peculiar’ in the case. Close attention is paid to characteristic symptoms as they must correspond to symptoms of the remedy if it is to cure.
common symptoms – symptoms that are common to a specific disease, for example, stiff joints in arthritis, or yellow skin in jaundice.
complete symptom – etiology, location (including radiation or extension of sensation), sensation, modalities, and concomitants all together give a complete symptom.
concomitant – occurring simultaneously. Refers to symptoms that happen at the same time as the chief complaint. One of the parts of a complete symptom.
decimal – the first experiments with the decimal scale were performed by Constantine Hering in 1833. 1 part medicinal substance (dry or tincture), mixed with 9 parts diluent (lactose or alcohol), and then succussed (shaken), yields the 1X(D) potency. Taking 1 part of that potency mixed with 9 parts diluent, then succussed, yields the 2X(D) potency. This is continued until the desired potency is reached.
etiology – the cause of disease. One of the aspects of a complete symptom.
homeopathy – system of natural medicine developed by Samuel Hahnemann. Based on the Law of Similars.
isopathy – the treatment of a disease with the identical disease agent.
keynote – a unique feature or fundamental aspect of a remedy.
location – where the symptom is experienced. Location is one of the parts of a complete symptom.
materia medica – “materials of medicine” in Latin. A reference that lists the curative indications and therapeutic actions of homeopathic medicines. This information is derived from provings and clinical experience.
modality – a condition that makes a person or their symptom better or worse. For example, better in a hot bath, abdominal pain better bending over, worse rainy weather, etc. Modalities are one of the parts of a complete symptom.
medicines (usually potentized) –are administered to healthy people to discover the symptoms they are capable of producing and thereby able to cure.
mother tincture – A Mother Tincture is a solution of a botanical substance and alcohol made according to standards set by the HPUS (Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States). Depending on the properties of the substance, a mother tincture is either a 1x or 1c potency. All higher potencies are derived from the mother tincture.
nosode – a homeopathic remedy prepared from diseased tissue or the product of disease.
organon – The Organon of Medicine, by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy. This book describes the principles and practice of homeopathy. Hahnemann wrote 6 editions of the Organon from 1810-1842. The sixth edition, though finished in 1842, was not published until 1921.
potency – the strength of a homeopathic remedy. Determined by how many times the remedy has been succussed and diluted during preparation. A number and a letter are associated with the remedy name to indicate which potency scale has been used. An example of the decimal scale would be Arnica 6x. An example of the centesimal scale would be Arnica 30c. An example of the 50 millesimal scale(LM) would be Arnica LM1. These are the 3 potency scales currently in use.
potentized – usually refers to a substance prepared according to homeopathic pharmaceutical standards. This means that it has gone through serial dilution and succussion.
proving – the most accurate method of ascertaining the action of medicines on human health.
remedy – medicine, as in homeopathic remedy.
repertorize – to repertorize a case one looks up symptoms in a repertory.
repertory – an index of the homeopathic materia medica by symptom categorized by. A list of remedies is indicated for each symptom.
rubric – a symptom as written in a homeopathic repertory.
sarcode – a tissue or glandular extract made into a homeopathic remedy.
sensation – the experience of a symptom, what it feels like, where you feel it and does it start in one place and travel to another place in the body? One of the parts of a complete symptom.
simillimum – the most similar remedy corresponding to a case. The remedy most likely to cure. The law of similars; “Similia similibus curantur” or “Like cures like”succussion – the process of forcefully striking a homeopathic remedy against a firm surface.vital force – the energy that maintains life in the individual.