Inhibition of human basophil degranulation by successive histamine dilutions: results of a European multi-centre trial

Nanomaterial Characterisation of Diluted Platina and Alcohol Control Samples

BACKGROUND

The healing effects of homeopathic ultra-high potencies (UHPs) have always been a puzzle for material science, though recent research papers have now characterised the nanomaterial nature of several such UHPs. This study aimed to analyse the material content of clinically used potencies of the homeopathic medicine Platina (platinum) compared with alcohol control samples.

METHODS

Potencies of Platina were analysed under dynamic light scattering (DLS), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) to identify the nanomaterial content. As control samples, both unsuccussed and potencies of alcohol were analysed by using DLS and HRTEM.

RESULTS

Platina 30c to CM: Nanoparticles were identified under DLS (mean particle size varying from 1.3 nm in 30c to 6.5 nm in CM) and HRTEM (particle size varying from 3.31 to 12.7 nm in 30c to 1.94 to 8.54 nm in CM). EDS confirmed the presence of platinum in all the samples of Platina. SAED analysis of Platina 30c, 200c, 1M and 10M confirmed also the presence of platinum dioxide (PtO2). For control samples, DLS and the HRTEM analyses of pharmaceutical grade unsuccussed alcohol and potentized Alcohol (6c, 12c and 30c) did not show any particles.

CONCLUSION

Homeopathic potentization generated NPs of platinum in ultra-dilutions. NPs in potencies of Platina showed platinum in EDS and PtO2 in SAED. Importantly, control samples of alcohol did not show the presence of particles under DLS or HRTEM.

'Unconventional' experiments in biology and medicine with optimized design based on quantum-like correlations

In previous articles, a description of 'unconventional' experiments (e.g. in vitro or clinical studies based on high dilutions, 'memory of water' or homeopathy) using quantum-like probability was proposed. Because the mathematical formulations of quantum logic are frequently an obstacle for physicians and biologists, a modified modeling that rests on classical probability is described in the present article. This modeling is inspired from a relational interpretation of quantum physics that applies not only to microscopic objects, but also to macroscopic structures, including experimental devices and observers. In this framework, any outcome of an experiment is not an absolute property of the observed system as usually considered but is expressed relatively to an observer. A team of interacting observers is thus described from an external view point based on two principles: the outcomes of experiments are expressed relatively to each observer and the observers agree on outcomes when they interact with each other. If probability fluctuations are also taken into account, correlations between 'expected' and observed outcomes emerge. Moreover, quantum-like correlations are predicted in experiments with local blind design but not with centralized blind design. No assumption on 'memory' or other physical modification of water is necessary in the present description although such hypotheses cannot be formally discarded. In conclusion, a simple modeling of 'unconventional' experiments based on classical probability is now available and its predictions can be tested. The underlying concepts are sufficiently intuitive to be spread into the homeopathy community and beyond. It is hoped that this modeling will encourage new studies with optimized designs for in vitro experiments and clinical trials.

Survey of immuno-allergological ultra high dilution research

BACKGROUND

Experiments about basic research in Immuno-allergology reported by M. Bastide and B. Poitevin in Ultra High Dilution (1994) have been appraised from a 20 year perspective. The numerous experiments published mainly focus on immunological regulation, inflammatory process and basophil activation. They are analyzed according to one essential criterion: repeatability.

METHODS

The commentary reflects the research details made available in a recently published literature review, also published in French.

RESULTS

The regulatory effect of high dilution of bursin on immune response has been observed in multiple experiments but not reproduced by independent teams. The immunomodulating effect of Thymulin has been confirmed in mice. Rhus toxicodendron has an anti-inflammatory activity on different models, from mother tincture (TM) to very high dilutions. The homeopathic complex Canova activates macrophages in vitro and in vivo, induces lymphocyte proliferation, and reduces the size of tumors and mortality of sarcoma-bearing mice. Some homeopathic medicines used in clinical inflammation modulate in vitro the neutrophil activation, with variability in the protocols used and in the medicines tested. In allergology, high dilution histamine has an inhibitory effect on basophil activation in multicenter trials and with independent teams, either with methods implying a change in basophil staining or with flow cytometry. However, high dilution histamine had no effect in some well-conducted experiments. The inhibitory effect of Apis mellifica has not been studied with the flow cytometry method, as well as the activation of basophil by anti-IgE high dilution, published in Nature.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite considerable research activity in immuno-allergology and a great increase in the number of publications, there is still not in this domain a "gold standard" trial in basic research in homeopathy. The most studied system, the inhibitory effect of histamine high dilutions on basophil activation, requires clarifications of various factors, including individual sensitivity. For scientific and epistemological reasons, the same work should be carried out for independent reproduction of the experiments conducted with anti-IgE and Apis mel high dilution, in complement of the new axes of research in immunoallergology developed since 20 years.

High-dilution effects revisited. 1. Physicochemical aspects

Several lines of evidence suggest that homeopathic high dilutions (HDs) can effectively have a pharmacological action, and so cannot be considered merely placebos. However, until now there has been no unified explanation for these observations within the dominant paradigm of the dose-response effect. Here the possible scenarios for the physicochemical nature of HDs are reviewed. A number of theoretical and experimental approaches, including quantum physics, conductometric and spectroscopic measurements, thermoluminescence, and model simulations investigated the peculiar features of diluted/succussed solutions. The heterogeneous composition of water could be affected by interactive phenomena such as coherence, epitaxy and formation of colloidal nanobubbles containing gaseous inclusions of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, silica and, possibly, the original material of the remedy. It is likely that the molecules of active substance act as nucleation centres, amplifying the formation of supramolecular structures and imparting order to the solvent. Three major models for how this happens are currently being investigated: the water clusters or clathrates, the coherent domains postulated by quantum electrodynamics, and the formation of nanoparticles from the original solute plus solvent components. Other theoretical approaches based on quantum entanglement and on fractal-type self-organization of water clusters are more speculative and hypothetical. The problem of the physicochemical nature of HDs is still far from to be clarified but current evidence strongly supports the notion that the structuring of water and its solutes at the nanoscale can play a key role.

Homeopathic drug discovery: theory update and methodological aspect

BACKGROUND

Homeopathy treats patient on the basis of totality of symptoms and is based on the principle of 'like cures like'. It uses ultra-low doses of highly diluted natural substances as remedies that originate from plants, minerals or animals.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this review are to discuss concepts, controversies and research related to understanding homeopathy in the light of modern science.

METHODS

Attempts have been made to focus on current views of homeopathy and to delineate its most plausible mechanism(s) of action.

RESULTS

Although some areas of concern remain, research carried out so far both in vitro and in vivo validates the effects of highly diluted homeopathic medicines in a wide variety of organisms.

CONCLUSION

The precise mechanism(s) and pathway(s) of action of highly diluted homeopathic drugs are still unknown.

A homeopathic remedy from arnica, marigold, St. John's wort and comfrey accelerates in vitro wound scratch closure of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

BACKGROUND

Drugs of plant origin such as Arnica montana, Calendula officinalis or Hypericum perforatum have been frequently used to promote wound healing. While their effect on wound healing using preparations at pharmacological concentrations was supported by several in vitro and clinical studies, investigations of herbal homeopathic remedies on wound healing process are rare. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a commercial low potency homeopathic remedy Similasan® Arnica plus Spray on wound closure in a controlled, blind trial in vitro.

METHODS

We investigated the effect of an ethanolic preparation composed of equal parts of Arnica montana 4x, Calendula officinalis 4x, Hypericum perforatum 4x and Symphytum officinale 6x (0712-2), its succussed hydroalcoholic solvent (0712-1) and unsuccussed solvent (0712-3) on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Cell viability was determined by WST-1 assay, cell growth using BrdU uptake, cell migration by chemotaxis assay and wound closure by CytoSelect ™Wound Healing Assay Kit which generated a defined "wound field". All assays were performed in three independent controlled experiments.

RESULTS

None of the three substances affected cell viability and none showed a stimulating effect on cell proliferation. Preparation (0712-2) exerted a stimulating effect on fibroblast migration (31.9%) vs 14.7% with succussed solvent (0712-1) at 1:100 dilutions (p < 0.001). Unsuccussed solvent (0712-3) had no influence on cell migration (6.3%; p > 0.05). Preparation (0712-2) at a dilution of 1:100 promoted in vitro wound closure by 59.5% and differed significantly (p < 0.001) from succussed solvent (0712-1), which caused 22.1% wound closure.

CONCLUSION

Results of this study showed that the low potency homeopathic remedy (0712-2) exerted in vitro wound closure potential in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. This effect resulted from stimulation of fibroblasts motility rather than of their mitosis.

Inhibition of basophil activation by histamine: a sensitive and reproducible model for the study of the biological activity of high dilutions

BACKGROUND

At the beginning of this series of experiments we were looking for a model based on the use of purified commercially available compounds based on a fully described and accepted pharmacological model to study of the biological effect of high dilutions. Negative feedback induced by histamine, a major pro-inflammatory mediator, on basophils and mast cells activation via an H2 receptor me these criteria. The simplest way of measuring basophil activation in the early 1980's was the human basophil activation test (HBDT).

OBJECTIVES

Our major goal was first to study the biological effect of centesimal histamine dilutions beyond the Avogadro limit, on the staining properties of human basophils activated by an allergen extract initially house dust mite, then an anti-IgE and N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP). Technical development over the 25 years of our work led us to replace the manual basophil counting by flow cytometry. The main advantages were automation and observer independence. Using this latter protocol our aim was to confirm the existence of this phenomenon and to check its specificity by testing, under the same conditions, inactive analogues of histamine and histamine antagonists. More recently, we developed an animal model (mouse basophils) to study the effect of histamine on histamine release.

METHODS AND RESULTS

For the HBDT model basophils were obtained by sedimentation of human blood taken on EDTA and stained with Alcian blue. Results were expressed in percentage activation. Histamine dilutions tested were freshly prepared in the lab by successive centesimal dilutions and vortexing. Water controls were prepared in the same way. For the flow cytometric protocol basophils were first labeled by an anti-IgE FITC (basophil marker) and an anti-CD63 (basophil activation marker). Results were expressed in percentage of CD63 positive basophils. Another flow cytometric protocol has been developed more recently, based on basophil labeling by anti-IgE FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) and anti-CD203 PE (another human basophil activation marker). Results were expressed in mean fluorescence intensity of the CD203c positive population (MFI-CD203c) and an activation index calculated by an algorithm. For the mouse basophil model, histamine was measured spectrofluorimetrically. The main results obtained over 28 years of work was the demonstration of a reproducible inhibition of human basophil activation by high dilutions of histamine, the effect peaks in the range of 15-17CH. The effect was not significant when histamine was replaced by histidine (a histamine precursor) or cimetidine (histamine H2 receptor antagonist) was added to the incubation medium. These results were confirmed by flow cytometry. Using the latter technique, we also showed that 4-Methyl histamine (H2 agonist) induced a similar effect, in contrast to 1-Methyl histamine, an inactive histamine metabolite. Using the mouse model, we showed that histamine high dilutions, in the same range of dilutions, inhibited histamine release.

CONCLUSIONS

Successively, using different models to study of human and murine basophil activation, we demonstrated that high dilutions of histamine, in the range of 15-17CH induce a reproducible biological effect. This phenomenon has been confirmed by a multi-center study using the HBDT model and by at least three independent laboratories by flow cytometry. The specificity of the observed effect was confirmed, versus the water controls at the same dilution level by the absence of biological activity of inactive compounds such as histidine and 1-Methyl histamine and by the reversibility of this effect in the presence of a histamine receptor H2 antagonist.

Inhibition of CD203c membrane up-regulation in human basophils by high dilutions of histamine: a controlled replication study

OBJECTIVE

Previous research suggests that human basophil activation may be inhibited by histamine even at extremely low doses (high dilutions). However, uncertainties about the nature of the phenomenon and its reproducibility mean that further, rigorously controlled studies are necessary.

METHODS

Serial 1:100 (v:v) histamine dilutions (centesimal dilutions, C) and water controls were tested on human basophil responsiveness to anti-IgE antibodies, using flow cytometry. Each dilution step was followed by vertical mechanical shaking (also designed as succussion) at 20 strokes/s. Basophil-enriched buffy coats from healthy blood donors were incubated with 10(-4) mol/l histamine (2C) and with serially diluted preparations from 10(-20) mol/l (10C) to 10(-32) mol/l (16C), then incubated for 30 min with 1 mug/ml goat monoclonal anti-human IgE and basophils stained for immunophenotyping.

RESULTS

Membrane up-regulation of CD203c, which in these experimental conditions proved to be a more consistent activation marker than CD63, was significantly inhibited in samples treated with histamine at the dilutions of 2C (P = 0.001), 12C (P = 0.047), 14C (P = 0.003), 15C (P = 0.036) and 16C (P = 0.009). Control water dilutions/succussions did not show any significant effect.

CONCLUSION

Using a strictly standardized flow cytometry protocol and a new dilution/succussion procedure, we have shown that low and high dilutions of histamine inhibit CD203c up-regulation in anti-IgE stimulated basophils.

Gestores do SUS: apoio e resistências à Homeopatia

Este artigo apresenta parte dos resultados de pesquisa que investigou características do movimento de aproximação e afastamento entre homeopatas e médicos da Biomedicina, segundo o ponto de vista dos profissionais não homeopatas. Foram entrevistados 48 profissionais de saúde (docentes, gestores e médicos que trabalham na rede publica). Toma-se para análise apenas os resultados das entrevistas com gestores. Foram usadas como referências as concepções de: campo social e científico de Bourdieu; racionalidades médicas de Madel Luz; arranjos tecnológicos do trabalho em saúde de Mendes-Gonçalves e de identidade profissional de médico de Donnangelo e de Schraiber. Os resultados indicam que o apoio de gestores à presença da Homeopatia no SUS relaciona-se à percepção da demanda social, à defesa do direito de escolha dos usuários e à constatação de tratar-se de uma prática médica que resgata a dimensão humanista da medicina, contribuindo assim para a satisfação do usuário. As dificuldades e resistências apontadas pelos gestores ressaltam que a falta de informações sobre os procedimentos homeopáticos limita as possibilidades de utilização da Homeopatia porque gera insegurança sobre esta medicina.

The 'Memory of Water': an almost deciphered enigma. Dissipative structures in extremely dilute aqueous solutions

In the last decade, we have investigated from the physicochemical point of view, whether water prepared by the procedures of homeopathic medicine (leading inexorably to systems without any molecule different from the solvent) results in water different from the initial water? The answer, unexpectedly, but strongly supported by many experimental results is positive. We used well-established physicochemical techniques: flux calorimetry, conductometry, pHmetry and galvanic cell electrodes potential. Unexpectedly the physicochemical parameters evolve in time. The water solvent exhibits large changes in measurable physicochemical properties as a function of its history, the solute previously dissolved, and time. In particular we found evidence of two new phenomena, both totally unpredicted, in homeopathic dilutions: the presence of a maximum in the measured physicochemical parameters vs sample age, and their dependence on the volume in which the dilution is stored. These new experimental results strongly suggest the presence of an extended and 'ordered' dynamics involving liquid water molecules.

Management of depression by homeopathic practitioners in Sydney, Australia

OBJECTIVES

The study investigates the demographic profile, caseload and treatment for depression provided by homeopathic practitioners in Australia.

DESIGN

A postal survey comprising a self-administered questionnaire which included a combination of close-ended and open-ended response categories.

SETTING

The questionnaire was mailed to 128 homeopathic practitioners working in the metropolitan areas of Sydney, Australia.

RESULTS

The demographic profile of the respondents showed that most were in the 45-50 year age group, and female practitioners comprised 68% of the sample. Symptoms of depression reported in the homeopathic practice had parallel description of symptoms listed in the ICD-10. Overall, treatment of mental health disorders, such as depression, grief, anxiety and phobia were a significant feature of the practice caseload of the respondents. Eighty-four percent of the respondents had patients presenting for homeopathic treatment that were also receiving some form of external therapy, most commonly antidepressant medications. Sixty percent of the respondents incorporated 'concurrent' therapies in the treatment approach, most commonly counselling, nutrition and lifestyle management.

CONCLUSION

The paper shows that most homeopathic practitioners provide a pluralistic approach to management of depression which is in accordance with principles of holistic care. The implications of the research findings are discussed.

The history of the Memory of Water

'Homeopathic dilutions' and 'Memory of Water' are two expressions capable of turning a peaceful and intelligent person into a violently irrational one,' as Michel Schiff points out in the introduction of his book 'The Memory of Water'. The idea of the memory of water arose in the laboratory of Jacques Benveniste in the late 1980s and 20 years later the debate is still ongoing even though an increasing number of scientists report they have confirmed the basic results. This paper, first provides a brief historical overview of the context of the high dilution experiments then moves on to digital biology. One working hypothesis was that molecules can communicate with each other, exchanging information without being in physical contact and that at least some biological functions can be mimicked by certain energetic modes characteristics of a given molecule. These considerations informed exploratory research which led to the speculation that biological signaling might be transmissible by electromagnetic means. Around 1991, the transfer of specific molecular signals to sensitive biological systems was achieved using an amplifier and electromagnetic coils. In 1995, a more sophisticated procedure was established to record, digitize and replay these signals using a multimedia computer. From a physical and chemical perspective, these experiments pose a riddle, since it is not clear what mechanism can sustain such 'water memory' of the exposure to molecular signals. From a biological perspective, the puzzle is what nature of imprinted effect (water structure) can impact biological function. Also, the far-reaching implications of these observations require numerous and repeated experimental tests to rule out overlooked artifacts. Perhaps more important is to have the experiments repeated by other groups and with other models to explore the generality of the effect. In conclusion, we will present some of this emerging independent experimental work.

The in vitro evidence for an effect of high homeopathic potencies—A systematic review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

Systematic assessment of the in vitro research on high potency effects.

METHOD

Publications of experiments were collected through databases, experts, previous reviews, citation tracking.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

stepwise agitated dilutions <10(-23); cells or molecules from human or animal. Experiments were assessed with the modified SAPEH score.

RESULTS

From 75 publications, 67 experiments (1/3 of them replications) were evaluated. Nearly 3/4 of them found a high potency effect, and 2/3 of those 18 that scored 6 points or more and controlled contamination. Nearly 3/4 of all replications were positive. Design and experimental models of the reviewed experiments were inhomogenous, most were performed on basophiles.

CONCLUSIONS

Even experiments with a high methodological standard could demonstrate an effect of high potencies. No positive result was stable enough to be reproduced by all investigators. A general adoption of succussed controls, randomization and blinding would strengthen the evidence of future experiments.

Where does homeopathy fit in pharmacy practice?

Homeopathy has been the cause of much debate in the scientific literature with respect to the plausibility and efficacy of homeopathic preparations and practice. Nonetheless, many consumers, pharmacists, physicians, and other health care providers continue to use or practice homeopathic medicine and advocate its safety and efficacy. As drug experts, pharmacists are expected to be able to counsel their patients on how to safely and effectively use medications, which technically includes homeopathic products. Yet many pharmacists feel that the homeopathic system of medicine is based on unscientific theories that lack supporting evidence. Since consumers continue to use homeopathic products, it is necessary for pharmacists to have a basic knowledge of homeopathy and to be able to counsel patients about its general use, the current state of the evidence and its use in conjunction with other medications.

Improvement of flow cytometric analysis of basophil activation inhibition by high histamine dilutions. A novel basophil specific marker: CD 203c

BACKGROUND

Histamine is known to elicit a negative feedback effect on anti-IgE and allergen-induced basophil activation. A series of experiments performed between 1981 and 1995 using a manual method showed biological activity of highly diluted histamine. Most of the experiments used histamine in the range 10(-30) (15C)-10(-36) M (18C). These results were confirmed by automated flow cytometry, but this method is based on the selection of basophils by anti-IgE and analysis of basophil activation by anti-CD 63, showing significant but relatively low inhibition (approximately 14%), insufficient to convince the scientific community of the reality of the phenomenon.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated if the use of CD 203c, a basophil specific, earlier marker than CD 63 of the activation cascade, increased the sensitivity of the method, testing two target histamine dilutions, 10(-4) (2C) and 10(-32) M (16C).

METHODS

Basophils, obtained from buffy coats, were pre-incubated with the histamine dilutions and activated by two agonists: anti-IgE and fMLP (formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine peptide). Basophil activation was stopped with EDTA. The cells were labelled with anti-IgE, anti-CD 13 and anti-CD 14 for basophil selection, and anti-CD 63 and anti-CD 203c for basophil activation. Results were expressed in up-regulation percentage for CD 63 or mean intensity of fluorescence (MFI) for CD 203c.

RESULTS

Histamine 10(-4) M (2C) and histamine 10(-32) M (16C) were capable of inhibiting both IgE-dependent (anti-IgE) and IgE-independent (fMLP) basophil activation. The percentage inhibition depended on the activation marker used. The highest inhibition for histamine dilution 16C was observed with CD 203c (38%, P<0.001), approximately half the inhibition observed with histamine 2C (73%).

CONCLUSION

These new flow cytometric protocols confirmed that high dilutions of histamine may inhibit basophil activation and that the inhibitory effect is not restricted to IgE-dependent activation. The use of CD 203c instead of CD 63 increased the magnitude of the response.

Immunology and homeopathy. 2. Cells of the immune system and inflammation

Here we describe the results of some experimental laboratory studies aimed at verifying the efficacy of high dilutions of substances and of homeopathic medicines in models of inflammation and immunity. Studies carried out on basophils, lymphocytes, granulocytes and fibroblasts are reviewed. This approach may help to test under controlled conditions the main principles of homeopathy such as 'similarity' of drug action at the cellular level and the effects of dilution/dynamization on the drug activity. The current situation is that few and rather small groups are working on laboratory models for homeopathy. Regarding the interpretation of data in view of the simile principle, we observe that there are different levels of similarity and that the laboratory data give support to this principle, but have not yet yielded the ultimate answer to the action mechanism of homeopathy. Evidence of the biological activity in vitro of highly diluted-dynamized solutions is slowly accumulating, with some conflicting reports. It is our hope that this review of literature unknown to most people will give an original and useful insight into the 'state-of-the-art' of homeopathy, without final conclusions 'for' or 'against' this modality. This kind of uncertainty may be difficult to accept, but is conceivably the most open-minded position now.

The Cytomatrix as a Cooperative System of Macromolecular and Water Networks

Water was called by Szent-Gyorgi "life's mater and matrix, mother and medium." This chapter considers both aspects of his statement. Many astrobiologists argue that some, if not all, of Earth's water arrived during cometary bombardments. Amorphous water ices of comets possibly facilitated organization of complex organic molecules, kick-starting prebiotic evolution. In Gaian theory, Earth retains its water as a consequence of biological activity. The cell cytomatrix is a proteinaceous matrix/lattice incorporating the cytoskeleton, a pervasive, holistic superstructural network that integrates metabolic pathways. Enzymes of metabolic pathways are ordered in supramolecular clusters (metabolons) associated with cytoskeleton and/or membranes. Metabolic intermediates are microchanneled through metabolons without entering a bulk aqueous phase. Rather than being free in solution, even major signaling ions are probably clustered in association with the cytomatrix. Chloroplasts and mitochondria, like bacteria and archaea, also contain a cytoskeletal lattice, metabolons, and channel metabolites. Eukaryotic metabolism is mathematically a scale-free or small-world network. Enzyme clusters of bacterial origin are incorporated at a pathway level that is architecturally archaean. The eucaryotic cell may be a product of serial endosymbiosis, a chimera. Cell cytoplasm is approximately 80% water. Water is indisputably a conserved structural element of proteins, essential to their folding, specificity, ligand binding, and to enzyme catalysis. The vast literature of organized cell water has long argued that the cytomatrix and cell water are an entire system, a continuum, or gestalt. Alternatives are offered to mainstream explanations of cell electric potentials, ion channel, enzyme, and motor protein function, in terms of high-order cooperative systems of ions, water, and macromolecules. This chapter describes some prominent concepts of organized cell water, including vicinal water network theory, the association-induction hypothesis, wave-cluster theory, phase-gel transition theories, and theories of low- and high-density water polymorphs.

Replication study concerning the effects of homeopathic dilutions of histamine on human basophil degranulation in vitro

BACKGROUND

Various investigators have observed significant effects of highly diluted histamine on human basophil degranulation in vitro, compared to corresponding water controls. However, active and inactive dilution levels differed in most studies.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to reproduce former studies with flow-cytometry using rigorously controlled experimental conditions to minimise confounding factors.

METHODS

In seven independent experiments, basophils of the same human donor were incubated with diluted histamine (up to 10(-34)M) or water controls and activated with anti-IgE antibodies. Basophil activation was determined by using bi-colour flow-cytometry. Experiments were blinded and performed with a randomised arrangement of the solutions on microtiter-plates.

RESULTS

Histamine at the dilutions 10(-2)M and 10(-22)M was associated with a significant inhibition of basophil degranulation (p=0.018, Wilcoxon signed rank test) of 23.1% and 5.7%, respectively, if compared to "diluted" water treated in an identical manner. However, if all controls were pooled, only histamine 10(-2)M had a significant effect. Significant effects were seen for row numbers of the microtiter plates.

CONCLUSION

We were not able to confirm the previously reported large effects of homeopathic histamine dilutions on basophil function of the examined donor. Seemingly, minor variables of the experimental set up can lead to significant differences of the results if not properly controlled.

Entangled--and tied in knots! Practical consequences of an entanglement model for homeopathic research and practice

The assertion that 'local' theories of homeopathy are traditional appears to be contradicted by Hahnemann's description of the action of homeopathic medicines as 'spirit-like'. Entanglement theory prohibits the use of entangled states to convey information. Experimental proof of entanglement can only come indirectly. The implications for clinical research include that positive results will probably be found only in large series and that studies should avoid imposing a causal framework.

Priorities and methods for developing the evidence profile of homeopathy Recommendations of the ECH General Assembly and XVIII Symposium of GIRI

To achieve scientific acceptance, homeopathy must investigate several questions: 1. The activity of very highly diluted preparations. The consensus of the meeting was that there is clear evidence of this. 2. The content of very highly diluted homeopathic preparations. More research is needed but evidence exists that a specific signal is present in homeopathic preparations. 3. A theoretical framework in which the effects of homeopathic diluted preparations can be explained. The 'Body Information Theory' is such a theory. 4. The clinical effectiveness of homeopathy. Because they avoid the placebo effect, animal studies are a priority. For human trials using Quality of Life questionnaires, studies on the activity, content and theoretical basis of homeopathic preparations were reviewed approximately 70% of cases; more in children showed improvement. Homeopathy reduced costs and allowed a better improvement in work-days lost compared with conventional practice. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) implicitly test the placebo hypothesis; RCTs have been performed and meta-analyses conclude that there is clear evidence of efficacy which cannot be attributed to placebo effect. Priorities depend on the audience. More research is needed especially regarding the content of homeopathic preparations and the transmission of information. Theoretical issues are also important to avoid incorrect design of research protocols. More effort should be dedicated to veterinary research. Clinical effects analysis in humans remains important. Many other questions should be prioritised, such as the potential of homeopathy to avoid invasive procedures in children and the long-term effects of homeopathy in preventing chronic complications.

Effect of Atropa belladonna and Echinacea angustifolia in homeopathic dilution on experimental peritonitis

Atropa belladonna and Echinacea angustifolia have been used in homeopathy as modulators of inflammatory processes, in simple potency or 'accord of potencies', as recommended by homotoxicology. We evaluated their effects on leukocyte migration and macrophage activity induced by experimental peritonitis in vivo. Mice were injected (i.p.) with LPS (1.0mg/kg) and treated (0.3ml/10g/day, s.c.) with different commercial forms of these medicines. Echinacea angustifolia D4--a simple potency preparation--and Belladonna Homaccord, Belladonna Injeel, Belladonna Injeel Forte, Echinacea Injeel and Echinacea Injeel Forte--all in 'accord of potencies'--were tested. The association of A. belladonna and E. angustifolia in 'accord of potencies' produced an increase of polymorphonuclear cell migration (Kruskal-Wallis, P = 0.03) and a decrease of mononuclear cell percentages (Kruskal-Wallis, P < or = 0.04), when compared with control, mainly in preparations containing low potencies. The proportion of degenerate leukocytes was lower in the treated groups, compared to a control group (P < or = 0.05). The treated groups showed increased phagocytosis (P < or = 0.05), mainly in preparations containing high potencies. Our results suggest that A. belladonna and E. angustifolia, when prepared in 'accord of potencies', modulate peritoneal inflammatory reaction and have a cytoprotective action on leukocytes.

Towards understanding molecular mechanisms of action of homeopathic drugs: an overview

The homeopathic mode of treatment often encourages use of drugs at such ultra-low doses and high dilutions that even the physical existence of a single molecule of the original drug substance becomes theoretically impossible. But homeopathy has sustained for over two hundred years despite periodical challenges thrown by scientists and non-believers regarding its scientificity. There has been a spurt of research activities on homeopathy in recent years, at clinical, physical, chemical, biological and medical levels with acceptable scientific norms and approach. While clinical effects of some homeopathic drugs could be convincingly shown, one of the greatest objections to this science lies in its inability to explain the mechanism of action of the microdoses based on scientific experimentations and proofs. Though many aspects of the mechanism of action still remain unclear, serious efforts have now been made to understand the molecular mechanism(s) of biological responses to the potentized form of homeopathic drugs. In this communication, an overview of some interesting scientific works on homeopathy has been presented with due emphasis on the state of information presently available on several aspects of the molecular mechanism of action of the potentized homeopathic drugs.

Patient-practitioner-remedy (PPR) entanglement. Part 5. Can homeopathic remedy reactions be outcomes of PPR entanglement?

The possibility that well-documented types of reaction to the prescribed homeopathic medicine may be outcomes of PPR entanglement is discussed within the context of a previously described model for homeopathy that incorporates GHZ three-particle entanglement and Weak Quantum Theory.

Gas discharge visualization evaluation of ultramolecular doses of homeopathic medicines under blinded, controlled conditions

OBJECTIVES

To determine the feasibility of using a computerized biophysical method, gas discharge visualization (GDV), to differentiate ultramolecular doses of homeopathic remedies from solvent controls and from each other.

DESIGN

Blinded, randomized assessment of four split samples each of 30c potencies of three homeopathic remedies from different kingdoms, for example, Natrum muriaticum (mineral), Pulsatilla (plant), and Lachesis (animal), dissolved in a 20% alcohol-water solvent versus two different control solutions (that is, solvent with untreated lactose/sucrose pellets and unsuccussed solvent alone).

PROCEDURES

GDV measurements, involving application of a brief electrical impulse at four different voltage levels, were performed over 10 successive images on each of 10 drops from each bottle (total 400 images per test solution per voltage). The dependent variables were the quantified image characteristics of the liquid drops (form coefficient, area, and brightness) from the resultant burst of electron-ion emission and optical radiation in the visual and ultraviolet ranges.

RESULTS

The procedure generated measurable images at the two highest voltage levels. At 17 kV, the remedies exhibited overall lower image parameter values compared with solvents (significant for Pulsatilla and Lachesis), as well as differences from solvents in fluctuations over repeated images (exposures to the same voltage). At 24 kV, other patterns emerged, with individual remedies showing higher or lower image parameters compared with other remedies and the solvent controls.

CONCLUSIONS

GDV technology may provide an electromagnetic probe into the properties of homeopathic remedies as distinguished from solvent controls. However, the present findings also highlight the need for additional research to evaluate factors that may affect reproducibility of results.

Influence of the diluent on the effect of highly diluted histamine on basophil activation

BACKGROUND

In modern pharmaceutical practice, it is common to use purified ethanol and purified water for the preparation of homeopathic dilutions. Hahnemann in 1827 recommended good brandy as a diluent. Brandy contains a lot of accompanying substances in addition to ethanol.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The research question was whether different diluents influence the effectiveness of high dilutions, especially above Avogadro's number. We compared two dilution media to investigate the diluent's influence. Within the limitations of the test-system, the dilution media were as similar to good brandy as possible and like purified ethanol. Dilutions of histamine were prepared with both media. As test-system, we used modified basophil activation in an in vitro cell system. Basophils are activated by anti-immunoglobulin E (anti-IgE). The activation of basophils is inhibited by prior incubation with histamine. The reduction in activation was measured with different dilutions of histamine. The test system used a 3-colour flow cytometric method. The interleukin-3 (IL-3) receptor CD123 was used to identify basophils in the leukocyte mixture. The CD63 surface marker was used for quantification of activated basophils.

RESULTS

With higher concentrations of histamine, we observed inhibition on optimally anti-IgE-stimulated basophil activation with a clear concentration dependency. With low concentrations of histamine (up to 10(-31)), we also observed inhibition of IgE-mediated basophil activation. Differences were observed between the dilution media.

CONCLUSION

The preliminary results support the hypothesis that the dilution medium may influence the effects of high dilutions. This could be of importance for homeopathic pharmaceutical practice as well as for ultra-high dilution experiments. The refined basophil test system proved to be highly sensitive and reliable. Further studies are needed.

A critical review of the possible benefits associated with homeopathic medicine

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the recent scientific research progress on homeopathy. METHODOLOGY: Homeopathy was evaluated in terms of its clinical research; in vitro research, and physical foundations. The Medline database was the main reference source for the present research, concerning data of approximately the last 10 years. Secondary references (not available in this database) were obtained by means of direct requests to authors listed in the primary references. RESULTS: Clinical studies and in vitro research indicate the inefficacy of homeopathy. Some few studies with positive results are questionable because of problems with the quality and lack of appropriate experimental controls in these studies. The most recent meta-analyses on the topic yielded negative results. One of the few previous meta-analyses with positive results had serious publication bias problems, and its results were later substantially reconsidered by the main authors. The sparse in vitro homeopathic research with positive results has not been replicated by independent researchers, had serious methodological flaws, or when replicated, did not confirm the initial positive results. A plausible mechanism for homeopathic action is still nonexistent, and its formulation, by now, seems highly unlikely. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the recent scientific research on homeopathy, it can be concluded that ample evidence exists to show that the homeopathic therapy is not scientifically justifiable.

Patient-practitioner-remedy (PPR) entanglement. Part 1: a qualitative, non-local metaphor for homeopathy based on quantum theory

A metaphor for homeopathy is developed in which the potentised medicine, the patient, and the practitioner are seen as forming a non-local therapeutically 'entangled' triad, qualitatively described in terms of the transactional interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Vitalism, complexity and the concept of spin

Vital Force is a concept that has suffered at the hands of the current medical model. An attempt is made to show how it might be possible to explain Vital Force in terms of complexity theory. A metaphor is introduced for the operation of Vital Force in terms of gyroscopic motion.

Very high dilutions of dexamethasone inhibit its pharmacological effects in vivo

We evaluated the interaction of dexamethasone 10(-17) and 10(-33) M (equivalent to 7cH and 15cH) with dexamethasone in pharmacological concentrations, using as experimental models: acute inflammation induced by carrageenan, Ehrlich ascitic tumour, and migration of tumour infiltrating leukocytes (TIL). Male adult BALB/c mice (n=7 per group) were used in all experiments. Carrageenan (1%) was injected into the footpad for oedema evaluation and into the peritoneal cavity (i.p.), for differential counting of inflammatory cells. Ehrlich ascitic tumour cells (10(7) viable cells/ml) were injected i.p. and tumour cells were counted after 6 days, by the Trypan blue exclusion method. The differential TIL was counted using smears stained by hematoxylin-eosin. Treatments were made immediately after carrageenan inoculation or once a day, during Ehrlich tumour development, until the animals were killed. Animals were treated with the following preparations: (1) phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution; (2) dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg for inflammation model or 4mg/kg for tumour model) mixed with dexamethasone 7cH or 15cH; (3) dexamethasone (same doses) mixed in PBS. Homeopathic dexamethasone partially blocked the anti-inflammatory effect of pharmacological dexamethasone with regard to paw oedema (two-way ANOVA, P < 0.0008) and polymorphonuclear cell migration (chi2, P=0.0001). No important differences were observed between experimental and control groups, in relation to Ehrlich tumour cells viability or count, or bodyweight, but potentised dexamethasone restored control levels of TIL viability, compared to mice treated with pharmacological doses of dexamethasone (chi2, P< or = 0.001). The results demonstrate that a potentised substance may change its own pharmacological effects and suggest that ultradilutions effects act mostly on host response.

Homeopathy and conventional medicine: an outcomes study comparing effectiveness in a primary care setting

BACKGROUND

Recent meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials in homeopathy have suggested that homeopathy is more than a placebo response.

OBJECTIVE

Comparison of the effectiveness of homeopathy in primary care with conventional medicine in primary care for three commonly encountered clinical conditions.

DESIGN

An international multicenter, prospective, observational study in a real world medical setting comparing the effectiveness of homeopathy with conventional medicine.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty (30) investigators with conventional medical licenses at six clinical sites in four countries enrolled 500 consecutive patients with at least one of the following three complaints: (1) upper respiratory tract complaints including allergies; (2) lower respiratory tract complaints including allergies; or (3) ear complaints.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcomes criterion was the response to treatment, defined as cured or major improvement after 14 days of treatment. Secondary outcomes criteria were: (1) rate of recovery; (2) occurrence of adverse events; (3) patient satisfaction; and (4) length of consultation.

RESULTS

Four hundred and fifty-six (456) patient visits were compared: 281 received homeopathy, 175 received conventional medicine. The response to treatment as measured by the primary outcomes criterion for patients receiving homeopathy was 82.6%, for conventional medicine it was 68%. Improvement in less than 1 day and in 1 to 3 days was noted in 67.3% of the group receiving homeopathy and in 56.6% of those receiving conventional medicine. The adverse events for those treated with conventional medicine was 22.3% versus 7.8% for those treated with homeopathy. Seventy-nine percent (79.0%) of patients treated with homeopathy were very satisfied and 65.1% of patients treated with conventional, medicine were very satisfied. In both treatment groups 60% of cases had consultations lasting between 5 and 15 minutes.

CONCLUSIONS

Homeopathy appeared to be at least as effective as conventional medical care in the treatment of patients with the three conditions studied.