Babar Homeopathic Clinic
Homeopathic medicines: forms, potencies and safe use
ہومیوپیتھک ادویات
What homeopathic medicine is, how it is made, what 30 and 200 mean, and how to use it responsibly. Written by the team at Babar Homeopathic Clinic, Kangan Pur.
What is homeopathic medicine?
Homeopathy is a system of medicine developed in Germany about 200 years ago. Its medicines are prepared from plants, minerals and other natural substances by diluting them step by step and shaking at each step. In Pakistan homeopathy is a recognised system. Practitioners qualify with the DHMS diploma and register with the National Council for Homoeopathy.
A homeopathic doctor chooses a medicine for the whole picture of the patient: the complaint, what makes it better or worse, sleep, appetite and temperament. That is why there is no single best homeopathic medicine for a disease, and why treatment starts with a consultation.
Forms of homeopathic medicine
| Form | What it is |
|---|---|
| Globules | Small sweet sugar pills soaked with the medicine. The most common form, easy for children. |
| Tablets | Pressed tablets, including the biochemic tissue salts. |
| Dilutions (drops) | Liquid medicine in a potency such as 30 or 200, taken as drops. |
| Mother tincture (Q) | The concentrated plant extract in alcohol, before dilution. It contains real amounts of the plant. |
| Combination drops and syrups | Several remedies mixed by a manufacturer for one complaint. |
| Ointments and gels | For the skin, such as Arnica or Calendula. |
What do 6, 30, 200 and 1M mean?
These are potencies. They tell you how many times the medicine was diluted and shaken.
| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Q or Ø | Mother tincture, undiluted extract |
| 3X, 6X | Diluted 1 to 10, three or six times. Low potency |
| 6C, 30C (often written 6, 30) | Diluted 1 to 100, six or thirty times |
| 200C (200) | Diluted 1 to 100, two hundred times. High potency |
| 1M | Diluted 1 to 100, one thousand times |
A higher number means a greater dilution, not a stronger dose in the ordinary sense. Homeopaths choose low potencies for local complaints and higher ones for long-standing complaints. The choice belongs to the doctor.
Combination medicines
Manufacturers such as Dr Reckeweg, Schwabe and Pakistani companies sell numbered combination drops. The best known are the Dr Reckeweg R-series. According to the manufacturer's labelling, some of the most asked-for numbers are:
| Number | Labelled for |
|---|---|
| R1 | Inflammation |
| R5 | Stomach and digestion |
| R7 | Liver and gallbladder |
| R11 | Rheumatism and muscle pain |
| R13 | Piles |
| R14 | Nerves and sleep |
| R18 | Kidney and bladder |
| R25 | Prostate |
| R27 | Kidney stones |
| R41 | Sexual weakness |
| R49 | Sinus |
| R71 | Sciatica |
| R73 | Joints |
Ask on WhatsApp which medicines are in stock at the clinic. A combination is still a medicine, so tell the doctor about your other illnesses and treatment before you take one.
How homeopathic medicine is usually taken
- Follow the dose and timing the doctor writes for you.
- Tip globules into the cap and then into the mouth, without handling them.
- Let them dissolve in the mouth.
- Keep the bottle closed, cool, dry and away from sunlight.
- Check the expiry date and the seal when you buy.
Safety
- High dilutions rarely cause side effects.
- Mother tinctures and low potencies contain real amounts of the source and of alcohol. Some sources, such as nux vomica and belladonna, are poisonous in raw form.
- Pregnant women, babies and people on several medicines should take nothing without the doctor's advice.
- Never replace insulin, blood pressure, heart, asthma or epilepsy medicine with a homeopathic one.
- Buy sealed medicines from a known manufacturer. In Pakistan alternative medicines are regulated by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.
What does the evidence say?
Scientific reviews, including those summarised by the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, have not found reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective for specific diseases. Many patients report feeling better with it. We believe you should know both facts. Read is homeopathic medicine safe?
Do not self-treat
- Chest pain or breathlessness
- High fever in a child
- Blood in stool, urine, vomit or sputum
- Severe or worsening pain
Go to the nearest hospital or call Rescue 1122.
Questions about homeopathic medicines
Which is the best homeopathic medicine?
There is no single best medicine. In homeopathy the remedy is chosen for the person and the full set of symptoms, so two people with the same complaint may receive different medicines. That is why a consultation comes first.
What do 30 and 200 mean on a homeopathic medicine?
They are potencies. The number shows how many times the medicine has been diluted and shaken. A higher number means a higher dilution, not a larger dose.
Can I take homeopathic medicine without a prescription?
Homeopathic medicines are sold over the counter in Pakistan, but choosing the remedy and potency is the doctor's job. Do not treat a serious or lasting illness on your own.
Do homeopathic medicines have side effects?
High dilutions rarely cause side effects. Mother tinctures and low potencies contain real amounts of the source substance and alcohol, so they can cause side effects and interact with other medicines.
Can I take homeopathic and allopathic medicine together?
Tell both doctors what you take. Do not stop prescribed medicine for diabetes, blood pressure, heart disease, asthma or epilepsy.
How should homeopathic medicine be stored?
In its closed bottle, in a cool dry place, away from sunlight and out of reach of children. Check the expiry date on the pack.
Visit us in Kot Bismillah, Kangan Pur
- Address
- Main Road, Kot Bismillah, Kangan Pur, Tehsil Chunian, District Kasur, Punjab
- Open
- 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, every day
- Phone
- 0301 4117591
- Phone and WhatsApp
- 0325 2386838