What do the potencies or strengths of X and C mean?
Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2022 1:55 pm
You will see the homeopathic drug potency, or strength, on the medicine label as a number followed by a letter, such as X, C, M or CM. The number refers to how many times the base substance was diluted and succussed. The letters refer to roman numerals and describe the ratio in which the substance is diluted.
For example, a tincture (1X) is diluted at a ratio of 1:9 (one part active to nine parts inactive – USP dilution alcohol) and succussed to make a 2X. The 2X will be diluted in a 1:9 ratio and succussed to make a 3X, and so on.
C potencies are made by starting with a 2X and diluting in a 1:99 ratio (one part active to 99 parts inactive –USP dilution alcohol) and succussing. This makes a 2C potency. This process would be repeated in the same steps to create the higher C potencies. A 30C potency means the substance has been diluted and succussed 30 times, using the 1:99 ratio.
There is only a minute amount of the original substance in homeopathic medicines, which adds to their safety. Due to the dilution ratio, an X potency has more of the original material than a C potency of the same number. For example, a 6X of Arnica montana has more of the original material, a plant commonly called Mountain Daisy, than a 6C.
If you started a remedy using an X potency, for example, continue that remedy in an X potency. You might choose to go up in number, but you generally stay with either an X or C while taking the remedy. If you can’t get an X but can get a C in the same strength, do it if it’s urgent. Both have been potentized the same number of times, thus the strengths are similar.
In homeopathy, the higher the number, the stronger the medicine. Although the actual material substance becomes less and less with each dilution, the energy of the medicine becomes more homeopathically potent.
For example, a tincture (1X) is diluted at a ratio of 1:9 (one part active to nine parts inactive – USP dilution alcohol) and succussed to make a 2X. The 2X will be diluted in a 1:9 ratio and succussed to make a 3X, and so on.
C potencies are made by starting with a 2X and diluting in a 1:99 ratio (one part active to 99 parts inactive –USP dilution alcohol) and succussing. This makes a 2C potency. This process would be repeated in the same steps to create the higher C potencies. A 30C potency means the substance has been diluted and succussed 30 times, using the 1:99 ratio.
There is only a minute amount of the original substance in homeopathic medicines, which adds to their safety. Due to the dilution ratio, an X potency has more of the original material than a C potency of the same number. For example, a 6X of Arnica montana has more of the original material, a plant commonly called Mountain Daisy, than a 6C.
If you started a remedy using an X potency, for example, continue that remedy in an X potency. You might choose to go up in number, but you generally stay with either an X or C while taking the remedy. If you can’t get an X but can get a C in the same strength, do it if it’s urgent. Both have been potentized the same number of times, thus the strengths are similar.
In homeopathy, the higher the number, the stronger the medicine. Although the actual material substance becomes less and less with each dilution, the energy of the medicine becomes more homeopathically potent.