Much is made of the issue of antidotes in homeopathy. This is important in single dose ("c" potency) prescribing, where doses are conveniently very infrequent. More and more, I am altering my style of practice to daily liquid doses (called "LM" or "c" potencies), which renders antidotes meaningless.

Even in patients using LM potencies, "antidotes" can still be considered interferences, much like leaving a parking brake on in the car.

"c" potency patients

Unfortunately, remedies given in “c” potency (single dose given in the office) can be antidoted. This means that the remedy is at least temporarily setback or even “cancelled out.” An antidote is most dramatically noticed when symptoms have been quite a bit better for awhile after the remedy, then suddenly become worse almost to the original intensity. What this means is that the remedy was succeeding in strengthening the vital force beyond needing chronic symptoms, but then was somehow disturbed.
 
The word “antidote” sounds like a permanent event, but most of the time it is not. Barring other complications, most patients show signs of recovery within 2 or 3 weeks after an antidote. The remedy simply recovers and continues on unobstructed.
 

"Kissy" drawing by VL Gray

One difficulty with “c” potencies is that another dose given too soon will itself disturb a good remedy about 50% of the time! The process is more akin to wave phenomena (with “harmony” and “dissonance”) than to a chemical phenomenon (with “blood levels”).
 
For this reason, an antidote situation is not simply a matter of repeating the original dose. If it were destined to recover, the second dose would interfere with the original dose! Therefore, the best procedure is to wait 3 weeks or so to see if there is any recovery. If not, another dose may be needed. However, some of the time an antidote actually changes the symptom picture to a different remedy, so even this is not automatic. Another appointment is needed to evaluate the whole situation, see if another picture is emerging, and then to prescribe appropriately.
 
Meanwhile, patients who are taking LM potencies (the liquid remedies) can disregard antidote concerns. The remedies can still be antidoted, but a single dose will set things right whenever there is a relapse for any reason.
 
Antidotes
 
Coffee
 
Coffee beans very frequently — almost universally — antidote remedies. Caffeine itself is not the culprit, since tea, Coke, chocolate, and even NoDoz don’t antidote remedies. Andrew Weil once said that there are 150 medically-active substances in coffee beans, so it is probably one or more of them. We do know that even Decaf Coffee antidotes.
 
The amount needed to antidote varies from person to person, and there is no way to know in advance who is susceptible. A high percentage of people are antidoted by even an accidental sip at Starbucks, so the risk is too great to take!
 
Coffee cake, coffee ice cream, coffee candies, tiramisu, Irish coffee, Kahlua — all contain coffee beans and can antidote. Small amounts of cheap commercial flavoring, however, are probably safe.
 
Camphor
 
Even skin or mucous membrfane application of camphor can antidote remedies. Avoid anything that has significant amounts of camphor, such as deep heat rubs, liniments, Tiger Balm, Vicks, BenGay, Noxzema products, some Calamines (though "unmedicated" Calamine is generally safe), Caladryl, Campho-Phenique, some massage oils (smell them), and some lip balms (but not all — look at the label). Develop the habit of reading labels, since camphor is a quite common antidote.
 
Massage therapists and chiropractors frequently apply a camphorated oil at the end of their treatment, even when asked in advance. Be vigilant!
 
Hindu temples and ceremonies frequently involve “cone” incense, which is made with camphor. Although smelling camphor alone is not usually enough to antidote, it is a common complication when exposed for hours in a poorly ventilated situation with cone incense. Stick incense is no problem
 
Also, camphor in holy water and celebratory sweets can antidote remedies.
 
Australian Tea Tree (Melalucca) Oil
 
Often used to heal skin or gums in a variety of ways, skin exposure can antidote just like camphor.
 
Antibiotics and Steroids
 
It is a frequent story for someone to be doing well for a chronic disease, to catch a cold or sinus infection, go to a doctor for diagnosis, and then thoughtlessly take antibiotics. Within days, all the chronic symptoms come back full force. Whenever prescription drugs are recommended, call the office first to get our advice. If needed, I will agree and we will pick up the pieces later. But usually, I will advise waiting and to allow the remedy to work through the acute problem on its own.
 
One interesting situation is the use of antibiotics during gum surgery or dental cleaning in people with heart valve problems. Antibiotics do not usually antidote in that setting. Also, when given for viral complaints, they tend not to antidote. Therefore, it seems the antidotive action of antibiotics arises out of interfering with the body’s ability to fight infection rather than the drug itself. If antibiotics prevent an infection from happening, the body suffers no interference and is not antidoted.
 
Antibiotics are the most common drug antidote. Oral steroids are also risky. Other allopathic drugs vary in their potency to antidote or interfere, so the best policy is to call and ask.
 
Over-the-counter medicines are safe. They do not antidote. People worry about aspirin or Tylenol interfering, but they do not.
 
Dental Drilling
 
Drilling on teeth with medium and low-speed drills consistently antidotes remedies. High-speed drilling (with a light touch) may also antidote, but much less frequently. For this reason, we recommend avoiding drilling unless the situation warrants it. If there is pain, or if the cavity is causing other risks like structural weakening or abscess formation, then drilling may be necessary. Have it done, wait 3 weeks, and then we will re-evaluate the remedy.
 
Routine procedures at the dentist are not a problem except when they lead to drilling. Teeth cleaning is fine, X-rays are fine, but cavities that are found are best left undrilled until they pose more of a problem. In discussions with dentists, they usually agree with me that drilling can be delayed when I point out the likelihood of an overnight flare-up of, say, multiple sclerosis or ulcerative colitis.
 
Teeth cleaning is fine, but the ultrasonic cleaner (called a Cavitron, which is not used so often anymore) will antidote. Otherwise, using hand tools and a rubber polisher is fine.
 
Sonicaire toothbrushes do not antidote remedies.
 
Acupuncture
 
Acupuncture, whether with needles or moxa, frequently antidotes remedies. Because it is a powerfully curative system in its own right, acupuncture can be an extremely good choice for chronic disease — but a choice it must be, because both systems interfere with each other.
 
Acupressure, however, does not antidote.
 
Chinese herbs do not antidote in my experience.
 
Mothballs
 
Brief inhalation, even for a few hours, may not be a problem. But sleeping overnight in the midst of mothball odors often antidotes.
 
Electric blankets
 
Sleeping under an electric blanket covering most of the body seems to inhibit flows of electromagnetic energy in the body, preventing adjustments crucial to healing and balance.
 
Using the blanket to warm the bed beforehand and then turning it off once in bed is no problem.
 
Heating pads are no problem because the body’s energy flows can adjust around it.
 
TENS units do not antidote.
 
Geothermal Hot Springs
 
Water activated by minerals coming up from deep in the Earth apparently interfere with remedies.
 
Being around the baths, sunning by the side, etc., do not antidote. But full immersion, even in the side-tubs, will likely antidote.
 
Minerals added to the bath at home do not antidote.
 
Safe Interactions
 
Cigarettes  do not antidote.
 
Alcohol     Safe, except Kahlua, Irish coffee, anything with coffee beans.
 
Tea            Any amount.
 
Recreational Drugs
This is variable. Some people are hypersensitive to many
chemicals and could be easily antidoted. General recreational use is not a problem for most people. Chronic habitual use, however, can eventually antidote.
 
Allopathic Medications
Do not stop medications without advice. Most patients begin homeopathy on medication, then gradually wean off as many as possible over time.
 
Medications are not instant antidotes, except antibiotics and steroids. Most others eventually shorten the action of remedies within 2 to 9 months, depending on the situation.
 
The issue with allopathic drugs is their suppressive nature. Aimed to relieve symptoms, which are attempts to heal, they convert acute to chronic and delay cure in chronic disease. Thus, if nothing else, they act like a “parking break” on remedies.
 
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