Determining whether a homeopathic remedy labeled 30C or 200CK is “stronger” depends entirely on the unique definition of strength used in homeopathy. This system of alternative medicine is based on the principle of “like cures like.” A substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person is used in a highly diluted form to treat similar symptoms in an ill person. The strength, or “potency,” is determined by the number of times the substance has been diluted and vigorously shaken, a process called succussion. This concept inverts conventional pharmacology, where higher concentration equals greater effect.
Decoding Homeopathic Potency Scales
Homeopathic potency is denoted by a number and a letter, signifying the dilution ratio and the number of dilution steps. The letter “C” stands for the centesimal scale, meaning each successive step involves a 1:100 dilution factor. For instance, a 1C potency mixes one part of the original substance with 99 parts of a solvent, followed by succussion. This 1:100 dilution and succussion process is repeated for each subsequent potency level. A 30C remedy has undergone this process 30 separate times. Homeopaths operate under the counter-intuitive rule that a higher number indicates greater dilution and thus a theoretically stronger, or “deeper-acting,” effect.
The letter “K” in 200CK refers to the Korsakovian method of preparation. This method differs from the standard centesimal (Hahnemannian) method primarily in the containers used. The Korsakovian method uses only one container, which is emptied after succussion, leaving a thin film of the previous potency before being refilled with new solvent. Despite this procedural difference, a 200C and a 200CK represent the same final magnitude of dilution for practical purposes.
The Magnitude of 30C Versus 200CK
Comparing 30C and 200CK reveals a massive difference in the degree of dilution, which homeopaths interpret as a difference in potency. A 30C remedy represents a dilution factor of 1 part in \(10^{60}\) (100 raised to the power of 30). The 200CK remedy, having undergone 200 steps of 1:100 dilution, represents a dilution factor of 1 part in \(10^{400}\).
To grasp the scale of these numbers, one must consider Avogadro’s number, which is approximately \(6.022 \times 10^{23}\). This number represents the threshold beyond which it is statistically unlikely to find a single molecule of the original substance in a solution. In the centesimal scale, this point is typically reached around the 12C potency.
Both 30C and 200CK are far beyond this physical limit. The 30C dilution factor of \(10^{60}\) is vastly more dilute than Avogadro’s number, ensuring no original material remains. The 200CK, with its dilution factor of \(10^{400}\), is astronomically more dilute than the 30C.
From the perspective of a homeopath, the 200CK is the stronger or deeper-acting remedy because it has undergone significantly more steps of dilution and succussion. Homeopaths generally view 30C as a moderate potency suitable for acute, physical symptoms. Conversely, 200CK is considered a high potency, reserved for intense situations or deeper, chronic complaints. The reasoning is that the energetic pattern of the original substance is transferred to the solvent through succussion and intensified with each successive dilution.
Scientific Perspective on Strength and Efficacy
From the standpoint of chemistry and pharmacology, the question of which remedy is stronger is irrelevant. Both 30C and 200CK are chemically indistinguishable from pure water, alcohol, or sugar. Since the dilutions are far beyond the point where any molecule of the starting material could remain, both remedies contain zero active ingredient. Conventional science holds that neither preparation can exert a chemical or physiological effect greater than that of the carrier substance itself.
Major scientific and medical bodies worldwide have concluded that homeopathic remedies lack biological plausibility. They assert that claims of efficacy for high-potency treatments are not supported by reliable scientific evidence and do not go beyond the effect of a placebo. The strength of conventional medicine is defined by the concentration of an active compound; by this standard, both 30C and 200CK are inert.
This results in two opposing definitions of strength. Within homeopathy, 200CK is deemed “stronger” because its greater dilution is believed to enhance its energetic effect. From an evidence-based scientific viewpoint, however, since both remedies contain no medicinal molecules, neither is considered to have any inherent strength or efficacy beyond a placebo.