Plussing Method

The plussing method is a dosing technique in which a remedy pellet is dissolved in water and the solution is succussed (struck firmly against the palm or a resilient surface) before each dose. This succussion slightly alters the potency with each administration, preventing the exact repetition of an identical dose — a refinement Hahnemann introduced in the sixth edition of the Organon of Medicine to enable gentler, more sustained treatment.

In Practice

In classical dry dosing, a patient receives an identical pellet each time the dose is repeated. Hahnemann observed that repeating the exact same potency could sometimes provoke unnecessary aggravation or cause the remedy to cease acting effectively. The plussing method addresses this by introducing a slight modification to the potency with each dose.

The technique involves dissolving a remedy in water and succussing the solution before each dose, slightly altering the potency with each administration. This approach is described in detail in the sixth edition of the Organon. The plussing method is particularly valued in chronic treatment and in sensitive patients who respond strongly to dry doses. It allows more frequent repetition with a lower risk of aggravation, because the vital force encounters a slightly new stimulus each time. It is also the standard method for administering LM (Q) potencies, which Hahnemann designed to work in liquid form. For practical guidance on liquid dosing, see Potency Guide and How to Take Remedies.

Historical Context

Hahnemann developed the plussing method late in his career, articulating it most fully in the sixth edition of the Organon (completed 1842, published 1921). He had come to regard the repetition of an unchanged dose as one of the chief causes of unnecessary aggravation, and the method of succussing in water before each dose was his solution. The technique is sometimes called the "split dose" or "liquid dose" method in English-language literature.

Related Terms

• Posology — the broader discipline of dosage that encompasses the plussing method
• Aggravation — the temporary worsening of symptoms that plussing helps minimize
• Organon of Medicine — the text in which Hahnemann formalized this technique

Learn More

• Potency Guide — an overview of potency scales including LM potencies used with the plussing method
• How to Take Remedies — practical information on remedy administration methods