The concept of water having a memory is most often referred to as a possible explanation for how homeopathy works. When one first learns about homeopathy, the process of dilution and succussion is explained as a process by which each remedy is diluted over and over again, and at each stage of dilution the remedy gets vigorously (yet methodically) shaken. Common sense tells us that the more something is diluted, the weaker it becomes. Yet in homeopathic practice, we observe the effects of remedies increasing through this process. Even homeopaths would agree that simple dilution would not produce effective remedies. Hahnemann himself knew that results were soon lost when substances were diluted without succussion as mentioned in the Organon (footnote 269d, p. 237):

“Daily we hear homeopathic medicinal potencies referred to as mere dilutions when they are, in fact, the opposite. There is a true opening up of the natural substances produced by trituration and succussion, bringing to the revelatory light of day the specific medicinal powers that lie hidden in their inner wesen. The non-medicinal dilution medium merely helps as a supervening accessory condition. For example, the simple dilution of a grain of salt in a large amount of water results in just plain water; the grain of salt disappears and never becomes the medicinal salt [natrum muriaticum] that our well-prepared dynamizations have heightened to such admirable strength.”

Hahnemann describes, at length, the exact process that must be followed in dilution and succussion, not only in the Organon but in his Lesser Writings as well. Unfortunately, he often referred to potentization as releasing “internal, spirit-like medicinal powers”, which led to great criticism from the orthodox medical community. From his time until present, any reference to spirit usually lowers credibility as spirit is not known to be scientifically proven. Even using the term “dynamization” implies some kind of etheric nature to the process, which then gets written off as metaphysical and unscientific. Most scientists and physicians dismiss homeopathy as quackery due to this seemingly flawed theory of spirit and invisible powers. However more and more research is being done within physics which is revealing to us a microscopic world that is far more complex than anyone could have imagined.

Some argue that technology is not yet advanced enough to measure the activity of a homeopathic remedy. Others say that the homeopathic paradigm is so outside the realm of scientific protocol that it cannot be confirmed within the medical-science confines, as we know them. Still others think homeopathy is being suppressed from research and the social mainstream due to pharmaceutical corporate control. One thing is certain, Natural Law supersedes any theory humanity can propose. If homeopathy obeys Natural Law, as we study in our homeopathic education to be true, then there is a method of proof waiting for discovery. Quantum physics seems to be the most likely field by which this discovery is waiting.

It is common, acceptable theory that the three dimensional structure of a molecule can play as significant a role in how that substance behaves as does its chemical formula; for example the allotropes of carbon. When carbon is crystallized due to low temperature and high pressure, it becomes a diamond. It is still chemically carbon, but the carbon atoms are tetrahedrally bonded in structure. This different form of bonding fundamentally changes its physical properties. On the opposite spectrum of carbon, we have graphite. Again, chemically still carbon but it is bonded in hexagonal or rhombohedral structure. The memory of water theory suggests that water also has the ability to change its structure, and therefore its properties.

The basic principle of the water memory concept is that water can retain a “memory” of the substances it has been previously exposed to and can therefore maintain the properties of those substances, even after the physical substance is removed. The most common questions that arise are: How does it do this? Why does it seem to have a “selective memory” for only the homeopathic substance? How does the body then interpret this message? And why, if homeopathy seems so convinced of the evidence, is the rest of the world not listening?