equals 1/1,000, and 6X equals 1/1,000,000. Dilutions of 1 to 100 are designated by a C, 1C equals 1/100, and 3C equals 1,000,000. Remedies tend to range from 6X to 30X. A 30X dilution would mean that the substance was diluted 1030 times (Barrett, p. 18).
An important part of the preparation of a dilution is the shaking of each, which allows the solution to remain potent, even past the point where none of the original molecules remain. Hahnemann became aware of this phenomenon after he noticed that the medicines that he took along on house calls remained more potent than the ones kept in his office. This led him to "success," meaning to vigorously shake, and not just dilute, as part of the process. This shaking is currently performed by machines. With each successive dilution, the remedy gets stronger and lasts longer; with each shaking, the homeopathic effects are released, even though the purely chemical effects of the substance are lost with each dilution (Reichenberg-Ullman & Ullman, 1995).
Stores and pharmacies tend to stock twenty or thirty remedies, in 6X or 30C potency. Higher potency remedies may be restricted to practitioners only. A dose is based on the frequency that the remedy is taken, and not the amount given. A homeopathic remedy taken at the wrong time can interfere with healing. Administration of remedies varies; they may be administered in a single dose, with a long time before repeating the dose, or it may be given in frequent, daily doses. They may be given in low potencies followed by higher potencies, for a long period of time or only until symptoms cease. Prescriptions are based on factors such as the strength of the vital force or whether other drugs are being taken simultaneously. Weak vital force or combination drugs may require more frequent doses with a lower potency (Reichenberg-Ullman & Ullman, 1995).
Combination remedies can be useful when a trained homeopath is unavailable. Typical...