HOMOEOPATHIC VEHICLES AND BASES :

- Sumit Goel.

Homoeopathic vehicles are material agents that are therapeutically inert, having no curative properties of its own, as well as chemically non-reactive with drug substances. They are a media for extraction of the properties of the drug, its preservation and conveyance of the properties of the drug to the intended site of action.

QUALITIES OF A HOMOEOPATHIC VEHICLE

* A homoeopathic vehicle should have no curative property of its own, in the crude state, as also, when it is potentized with other remedial agents. Monopharmacy is the basis of homoeopathic therapeutics. In no case under treatment is it permissible to administer more than one single, simple medicinal substance at one time (aphorism 273). Hence, a homoeopathic vehicle should remain neutral in all states to ensure the complete efficacy of the selected remedy.

* A homoeopathic vehicle should remain chemically neutral and non-reactive with the homoeopathic drugs to retain their active principles and their originality. Vehicles only act at a physical level, extracting the properties of the drug, liberating the potent energy by dynamization, preserving the curative properties of the medicine and conveying the effects of the remedy to the organism.

* A homoeopathic vehicle should not be toxic in relation to the utility for which it is intended. It should be harmless and safe as regards its action on the human organism. It should be edible and palatable and by itself, it may be used safely for non-homoeopathic purposes.

* A homoeopathic vehicle must itself be stable to ensure the stability of the homoeopathic drug that it carries.

UTILITY OF HOMOEOPATHIC VEHICLES

* As menstruum or an extractive of the properties and the active principles from the original source to prepare homoeopathic mother tinctures.

* As a solvent for dissolving the drug substances to prepare mother solutions.

* For preparing mother substances as a starting point for the preparation of homoeopathic dynamizations.

* As an important media for developing the dynamic curative energy of the drug to make it therapeutically active. It is also responsible to eliminate the toxicity of the drug substances by diluting the crude drug. This is effected by the process of homoeopathic succussions and triturations.

* As bases for preparation of external applications and for introduction of medicines via different routes.

* As a preservative of homoeopathic medicines.

* As a means of dispensing of homoeopathic medicines.

* By itself, homoeopathic vehicles can act as 'placebo'.

* In preparation of other homoeopathic vehicles.

* By itself, vehicles serve various uses:

- As a component of human diet.

- For cleansing of apparatus and utensils.

- Providing relief due to its physical properties.

- As antiseptics.

- Various non-homoeopathic uses.

CLASSIFICATION OF HOMOEOPATHIC VEHICLES AND BASES Homoeopathic vehicles, by the virtue of their physical state, under normal conditions, may be solid, liquid or semi-solid.

A. Solid vehicles



i.

i. Sugar of milk

ii. Cane sugar

iii. Globules and Pilules

iv. Pellets

v. Cones

vi. Tablets

B. Liquid vehicles



i.

i. Distilled water

ii. Alcohol

iii. Glycerin

iv. Solvent ether

v. Syrup simplex

vi. Olive oil

vii. Almond oil

viii. Sesame oil

ix. Chaulmoogra oil

x. Coconut oil

xi. Sandalwood oil

xii. Lavender oil

xiii. Rosemary oil

C. Semi-solid vehicles

i. Paraffin: Hard Paraffin

: Soft Paraffin - Yellow soft paraffin

- White soft paraffin

: Liquid Paraffin

ii. Beeswax: Yellow beeswax

: White beeswax

iii. Lanolin

iv. Spermaceti

v. Prepared lard

vi. Isinglass

vii. Soap: Hard soap

: Soft soap

: Curd soap

viii. Starch

Depending on their utility in homoeopathy, vehicles may be grouped as:

* Vehicles for preparation of mother tincture, mother solution and mother substance

i. Alcohol

ii. Distilled water

iii. Glycerin

iv. Solvent ether

v. Sugar of milk

* Vehicles for potentization

i. Sugar of milk

ii. Alcohol

iii. Distilled water

* Vehicles for dispensing of homoeopathic medicines

i. Globules, pilules

ii. Cones

iii. Tablets

iv. Sugar of milk

v. Distilled water

vi. Syrup simplex

* Vehicles as bases for external applications

i. Distilled water

ii. Alcohol

iii. Glycerine

iv. Olive oil

v. Almond oil

vi. Sesame oil

vii. Chaulmoogra oil

viii. Coconut oil

ix. Sandalwood oil

x. Lavender oil

xi. Rosemary oil

xii. Paraffin

xiii. Beeswax

xiv. Lanolin

xv. Spermaceti

xvi. Prepared lard

xvii. Isinglass

xviii. Soap

xix. Starch

Standards for purity and genuineness of the vehicles and bases that are used in homoeopathy are specified in the pharmacopoeia.

SELF ASSESSMENT

* Define 'Vehicle'. What are the qualities and uses of homoeopathic vehicles. Discuss classification of homoeopathic vehicles

* Qualities of a homoeopathic vehicle

* Utility of homoeopathic vehicles

QUIZ

1. Spermaceti is

(a) A solid vehicle

(b) A liquid vehicle

(c) Semisolid vehicle

(d) None of the above

2. A vehicle used for potentization of homoeopathic medicines is

(a) Sugar of milk

(b) Tablets

(c) Olive oil

(d) Lanolin

3. Paraffin is used

(a) For preparation of mother tincture

(b) For potentization

(c) For dispensing of potencies

(d) As a base for external applications

ANSWERS: 1 (c); 2 (a); 3 (d).

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