Homeopathic dosage theory is extremely complex and also follows the principle of individualization. In simple terms, the dose administered is adapted to the individual case just as much as the selected remedy.
The stimulus provided by the homeopathic remedy is always minimally invasive. The remedy dosage follows the guiding principle: "Less is more". Hahnemann leaves very clear rules for use (Hahnemann, 2017).
Here is a summary of the most important Organon paragraphs:
Drug reactions (§§ 63-69)
The drug reaction to a minimal administration in small quantities and a controlled dose (i.e. the single dose with observation period under test conditions) is sufficient to cause clearly observable reactions, which is necessary to assess the course of therapy. (§ 68)
Application rules (§§ 272-285)
- A single, dry dose is the smallest amount that can be applied. In dissolved fractional application, the stimulus accumulates and intensifies. (§ 272
- Only single remedies are given. (§ 273)
- The more homoeopathically appropriate and the higher the potency, the more harmful it is in large quantities and too frequent repetition. (§ 275- § 276)
- In homeopathic remedy selection of a highly potentized remedy, a minimal dose of the appropriate remedy is capable of producing a clearly recognizable curative (or palliative) response. (§ 279)
- Appropriate remedies are given until the reaction shows that the disorder has been overcome. (§ 280)
- If frequent repetitions of the remedy are necessary, the subsequent dose is modified by shaking in order to reduce over-stimulation. (§ 282)
- If the remedy is incorrectly selected, small doses have the advantage of fewer side effects. (§ 283)
Application in practice
These generally formulated application rules show that adequate dosing is not standardized, but is based on actual need, which in practice arises in several successive steps and is justified by monitoring the progress of the case.
Step 1 - Test phase with test dose, verifying the drug reaction through drug-differential diagnosis (DD).
Step 2 - Therapeutic phase with modulated drug administration according to the requirements of the case.
Step 3 - Maintenance dose, depending on the type of disorder or disease.
Even if this appears simple at first glance, the re-analysis raises several questions that need to be clarified in the individual case and always represent a mixture of clinical case understanding and evaluable drug reaction:
- How precisely can the choice of medication be verified in the course of a case?
- Are the reactions that occur being analyzed correctly?
- Is working hypothesis of the case understanding correct?
- Is the dose adequate, in other words specific enough? (Potency too high or too low)
- Was the dosage correct (too frequent or too infrequent doses)?
- Are there any indications for differential diagnosis?
- Is the effect palliative or curative?
These first seven key questions alone illustrate that the dosology of individual homeopathic remedies is based on an extremely complex process of analysis and falsification.
In contrast to conventional drug therapy, not only are statistically verified levels of efficacy tracked using surrogate parameters and separated from side effects or adverse drug reactions, but the entire reaction is evaluated in a complex manner.
In fact, this is one of the most demanding requirements of the entire therapy methodology. Further detailed elaborations will be presented in loose succession.
Sources and References
- Hahnemann, S. (2017). Organon der Heilkunst (6. Aufl.). Hahnemann Institut für homöopathische Dokumentation. Available at https://archive.org/details/organon-der-heilkunst (accessed May 18, 2025).
Authors: glt | Rev.: gbh, mnr, sfm, smi | Ed.: pz | last modified May 18, 2025