DYNAMIZATION (VERSUS POTENTIZATION)

     We can now clearly see between 1796 and 1801 the concept of dynamization, as opposed to simply the idea of dose (one or more granules of a substance), that emerges from this insight into the liquid dose and the serial dilutions. The idea of dynamization is the insight that all medicines act dynamically, an idea that is distinct from that of potentization, that is, a mother tincture can act dynamically, and indeed, must do so for cure of the disease, which is itself dynamic in nature.

     Hahnemann meant by dynamization the process of imparting spirit-like activity to the substance, or more accurately, liberating the spirit-like potential of a medicinal substance. In essence, Hahnemann had discovered a way in which to penetrate the veil of natura naturata, past the sensory world of appearances (chemistry) and into the supersensible world of dynamic effect (the realm of natura naturans, the Living Power or Dynamis). It is the succussion or intimate agitation of the liquid solution (or the process of trituration over a long period of time) that Hahnemann discerned as the agent of the spirit-like awakening of the natural substance.

     In describing, in 1837, the process of "shaking the liquid" each time a dose (usually a tablespoon) is given to the patient, Hahnemann states that this is the dynamization. Thus, the potency is not altered, as it remains the same potency by the nomenclature usually used (e.g., 30C) but the degree of dynamization is heightened.

     This slight change in the degree of dynamization is even affected, if the bottle which contains the solution of one or more pellets is merely shaken five or six times, every time before taking it. (Chronic Diseases, p. 156)

     We can also see that succussion alone affects the idea of dose (which is both general and specific - see below), namely through the quality of power of the medicine.

     §161.1. a]1 If the doses of the best dynamized medicine (§270) are small enough and if the dose was modified anew each time by succussion, then even medicines of long active duration can be repeated in short time periods even in chronic diseases.

     Disease, being dynamic, that is, ground in the generative power of the Living Principle, requires a dynamic agent to be destroyed. Hahnemann talks of taking one drop from a solution and then mixing it vigorously, a process he sees as making the solution (medicine) "intimate," seemingly a generative term (sexual in nature). All through this article, we see without doubt that he is moving away from the idea of quantity and into the idea of quality. In fact, he sees these as being functionally related.

     The next reference to dose in his writings is in 1805 in The Medicine of Experience, where he speaks of the heightened sensibility of the sick person to small doses of the similar medicine, as well as, again, to the dynamic nature of the remedies:

     With the exception of these few things and the almost purely mechanical operations of surgery on the body, amputation which merely shortens the limb, and blood-letting which merely diminishes the amount of that fluid, together with some mechanically injurious and insoluble substances that may be introduced into the body - all other medicinal substances act in a purely dynamic manner, and cure without causing evacuations, without producing any violent or even perceptible revolutions.

     This dynamic action of medicines, like the vitality itself, by means of which it is reflected upon the organism, is almost purely spiritual in its nature...

     Almost the sole condition necessary for the full and helpful action is that the appropriate remedy should come into contact with the susceptible living fibre; but it is of little, almost no consequence how small the dose is...

     If a certain small dose of diluted tincture of opium is capable of removing a certain degree of unnatural sleepiness, the hundredth or even the thousandth part of the same dose of such a solution of opium suffices almost equally well for the same end, and in this way the diminution of the dose may be carried much further without the excessively minute dose ceasing to produce the same curative result as the first...

     I have said that the contact of the medicinal substance with the living, sensitive fibre is almost the only condition for its action. This dynamic property is so pervading that it is quite immaterial what sensitive part of the body is touched by the medicine in order to develop it whole action...

      ...Dry preparations of the medicine in powder act less powerfully through it; its solution acts more powerfully, and still more so if it be applied to a larger surface [here he is talking of external applications of medicine]...

      But the diseased organism is altogether much more sensitive for the dynamic power of all medicines, so also is the skin of diseased persons... (Lesser Writings, p. 465-467)

     This is confirmed in the final edition of the Organon, when speaking of the LM potency:

     §270.9. g]2 It thereby becomes exceedingly probable that the material by means of such dynamizations (evolutions of its true internal, medicinal Genius) finally dissolves itself wholly into its individual spirit-like Entity and thus in its crude state could be considered only actually to consist of this spirit-like Entity.

     What we see here clearly is that the energy of the medicine comes from the Dynamis (Genius) of the medicine, a generative power.