AIAPGET Homeopathy Homeopathic Pharmacy Syllabus

What does the potency '30C' mean in terms of dilution?

30 successive centesimal dilutions of 1:100, i.e., a total theoretical dilution of 100^30 (10^60), each step accompanied by succussion.

Beyond which potency does the dilution exceed Avogadro's number, so no original molecules theoretically remain?

Beyond approximately 12C (or 24X), the dilution surpasses Avogadro's number (~6.022×10^23), meaning statistically no molecules of the original substance remain.

What is the official pharmacopoeia governing homeopathic medicines in India?

The Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India (HPI), published by the Government of India.

What is a homeopathic 'monograph'? What does it contain?

A standardized written description of an individual drug in the pharmacopoeia, containing its name, synonyms, source/botanical/chemical description, part used, method of preparation, identification tests, standards, and potencies.

What are the standard strengths of alcohol used in preparing Class I to Class IV drugs of the HPI?

Drug strength and alcohol percentage vary by class: Class I-IV plant tinctures use different proportions of strong alcohol/water based on moisture and juice content of the plant (typically yielding mother tinctures of 1/10 drug strength).

What drug strength does a Class III plant mother tincture have, and what is the basis of its preparation?

Class III tinctures have a drug strength of 1/10; they are made from plants with low moisture/juice content, extracted with strong alcohol of specified strength by maceration/percolation.

What is the role of 'maceration' in mother tincture preparation?

Maceration is soaking the drug substance in a measured menstruum (alcohol/water) for a defined period (usually with occasional shaking) to extract the soluble medicinal constituents before straining/filtering.

What is 'percolation' in mother tincture preparation?

A continuous extraction method where the menstruum slowly passes through a column of the drug material packed in a percolator, dissolving and carrying out the active constituents.

What are globules (poppy seeds/pilules) and how are they medicated?

Small, round, inert cane-sugar pellets used as a vehicle; they are medicated by saturating them with the desired liquid potency and allowing the alcohol to evaporate, leaving the drug on the surface.

What is the purpose of quality control in homeopathic pharmacy?

To ensure each medicine meets the prescribed standards of identity, purity, strength, quality and safety as laid down in the pharmacopoeia, guaranteeing consistency and efficacy.

Name common identification/quality-control tests applied to homeopathic mother tinctures.

Determination of weight per ml (specific gravity), alcohol content, total solids/dry residue, pH, color/odor, and chemical/chromatographic identity tests (e.g., TLC).

What is 'weight per ml' (specific gravity) used for in tincture QC?

It is a physical standard that helps confirm the identity, concentration and alcohol content of a mother tincture by comparing measured density against pharmacopoeial limits.

What is 'total solids' (dry residue) in a mother tincture and why is it measured?

The amount of non-volatile residue left after evaporating a known volume of tincture; it indicates the quantity of extracted medicinal matter and helps verify drug strength and quality.

What does 'alcohol content' determination ensure in a mother tincture?

It verifies that the menstruum strength matches the pharmacopoeial specification for that drug class, which affects extraction efficiency, preservation and potency standardization.

Which analytical technique is commonly used to identify and standardize plant-based homeopathic drugs by their constituent fingerprint?

Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), and increasingly HPTLC/HPLC, used to produce a chromatographic fingerprint of the drug's chemical constituents.

What is the standard shelf-life consideration / preservation method for liquid homeopathic potencies?

Liquid potencies are preserved in alcohol (which acts as a preservative), stored in well-closed amber/light-resistant bottles, away from heat, sunlight, strong odors and electromagnetic sources to prevent deterioration.

Why must homeopathic medicines be stored away from strong-smelling substances (camphor, perfumes, etc.)?

Strong odors and volatile substances are believed to antidote/neutralize the dynamic medicinal property of homeopathic potencies, so they must be stored separately to preserve efficacy.

Which Act and Rules regulate homeopathic drugs in India?

The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 (with specific schedules/provisions for homeopathic medicines).

Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, what licence is required to manufacture homeopathic medicines?

A manufacturing licence in the prescribed form issued by the State Licensing Authority, with manufacture carried out under a registered qualified person and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

What statutory body regulates homeopathic education and practice in India (current regulator)?

The National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH), established under the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020, which replaced the former Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH).

What is the function of the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Committee (HPC)?

A government-appointed expert committee responsible for preparing, revising and updating the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India and laying down official standards for homeopathic drugs.

What is 'GMP' and why is it important in homeopathic manufacturing?

Good Manufacturing Practices — a system ensuring products are consistently produced and controlled to quality standards covering premises, equipment, personnel, raw materials, process, documentation and quality control; mandatory under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules.

What labeling information is legally required on a homeopathic medicine package?

Name of the drug, potency, name and quantity of the medicine, name and address of the manufacturer, manufacturing licence number, batch number, manufacturing/expiry details, and the words 'Homeopathic Medicine'.

List the key ethical principles a homeopathic practitioner must follow.

Beneficence (act in patient's best interest), non-maleficence (do no harm), respect for patient autonomy and informed consent, confidentiality, honesty/integrity, and justice/fairness in care.

What is 'informed consent' in homeopathic ethical practice?

The patient's voluntary agreement to treatment after being given adequate, understandable information about the nature, benefits, risks and alternatives of the proposed treatment.

Why is patient confidentiality an ethical and legal duty for practitioners?

Patients disclose private information for proper case-taking; the practitioner is ethically and legally bound to protect this information and not disclose it without consent, except where law requires.

What is the difference between a sarcode and a nosode?

A nosode is prepared from diseased/morbid material or pathogens, whereas a sarcode is prepared from healthy tissues, organs or secretions of a living organism.

Compare the centesimal and decimal scales in terms of speed of potency rise and dilution per step.

Decimal (X) dilutes 1:10 per step — gentler, slower rise, more steps for high potency. Centesimal (C) dilutes 1:100 per step — stronger jump per step, reaching high potency in fewer steps.

What is the standard number of succussion strokes given at each step in Hahnemannian liquid potentization?

Ten (10) succussion strokes (downward strokes against a hard, elastic surface) are given at each dilution step.

What is meant by 'standardization' of a homeopathic drug?

The process of establishing and confirming the identity, quality, purity and strength of a drug against defined pharmacopoeial parameters so that every batch is consistent and reproducible.

What is a 'biochemic / tissue remedy' (Schussler salts) and on what theory is it based?

Twelve inorganic mineral cell salts (e.g., Calcarea phosphorica, Natrum muriaticum) prepared mainly by trituration, based on Dr. Schussler's theory that disease results from deficiency/imbalance of essential tissue mineral salts, corrected by supplying them in triturated form.