Principles of Dilution

The different forms of dilution:

1) Hahnemann's centesimal Dilution, where an active principle is diluted in 99 times its own volume of liquid, is potentiated to obtain a solution with a potency of 1CH. A drop of this solution is taken and diluted in 99 times its own volume of liquid and shaken: producing a solution with a potency of 2CH, and so on.

2) Hahnemann's decimal Dilution, where the active principle is diluted in 9 times its own volume of liquid, follows the same process, providing titrated solutions in DH.

3) Korsakov's Dilution: the process is the same, except that a single flask is used for the preparation. Instead of taking a hundredth of the solution obtained at 1CH, 99 per cent is discarded and the remaining 1 per cent diluted. At each new stage traces of the previous dilutions remain. This method would make it possible to obtain remedies which would have a more global effect than that obtained using Hahnemann's dilutions, and which would present fewer problems.

4) Quinquagentamillesimal Dilutions:

Historical overview -
In 1948, Dr Pierre Schmidt of Geneva and Dr Jost Künzli of St. Gallen put the finishing touches to the translation of the 6th edition of the "Organon of the Medical Art". Whilst they were translating this work, their attention was particularly attracted by § 270 on the subject of quinquagentamillesimal dilutions, which until that point had not been studied in depth.
In his § 270, Hahnemann describes very clearly the preparation method and also ways of administering quinquagentamillesimal dilutions (also known as fifty thousandths, or LM/... or Q...). He deals with the results of experiments and observations he has gathered over the course of the five years leading up to his last edition of the "Organon". In it, he describes a new method of potentiation that allows him to repeat doses of medication, sometimes over a very long period of time, particularly with chronic diseases, whilst avoiding the problems he has observed with centesimal dilutions.

Doctors Schmidt and Künzli decided in February 1949 to manufacture their own LM dilutions. Künzli would go on to make the remedy known as Sulfur on his own; later, with Pierre Schmidt, he would manufacture many other remedies, each of which would require about 30 hours' work.
Several other doctors of that time tried to manufacture LMs, none of them really followed the method of preparation described by Samuel Hahnemann. This inevitably gave rise to different remedies and therapeutic results that could not be compared.

2 Important Principles of Homeopathy:

Similia Similibus Curanter

This is the law of similars. It states that 'that which can cause can cure'. The onion, which produces tears in the eye and irritation (similar to a cold), can be used as a homeopathic medicine to cure colds which have irritating tears. The early Indians recognised this principle and states that Vishasya Vishamevam Aushadam and Samaha Samena Shantihi, but it was Dr. Hahnemann, who through his studies and experiments on the various medicines available in nature, practically proved the law.

Principle of Individualization

Treat the patient, not the disease. This is the most important doctrine of homeopathy. Not two human beings are alike and so the medicines used for their treatment need not be alike. Homeopathic medicines are prescribed based on the totality of symptoms of that individual. So, the name of the disease is not important to the doctor who tries to get a complete picture of the patient - his symptoms, the modalities of symptoms, his likes and disliked his environment, etc to arrive at the individualised remedy - which is the similimum.