How are remedies prepared?

First a solution is made of the crude substance, which is preserved in alcohol. This is called the mother tincture.

There are several scales of dilution, including decimal and centesimal, which you would see in the shops. For instance, you might buy Aconite 30c (thirtieth centesimal) or Nat. Phos. 6X (sixth decimal).

We will take for our example the preparation of Belladonna 12c (deadly nightshade). The pharmacist takes one part of the mother tincture and adds it to 99 parts of liquid; this is called dilution. He or she then bangs it several times on a firm, but yielding surface (Dr Hahnemmann used a big, leather-bound family Bible to stop the glass vial from shattering); this is called succussion. We now have the first centesimal potency: Belladonna 1c. The whole process is repeated (i.e. dilution of one part of the new solution to 99 parts of liquid, followed by succussion) eleven times.

The remedy is now ready for use. For convenience, pills or tablets are coated with it and the bottle is carefully labelled. They all taste the same, because they are made of sugar of milk. For those who are lactose intolerant, the remedy can be given in liquid form or on special wafers.