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Van Wassenhoven M, Goyens M, Dorfman P, Devos P, Demangeat JL. Characterisation of Aqueous Ultra-high Homeopathic Potencies: Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis. HOMEOPATHY 2024. [PMID: 39168134 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1787782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Over the past decade, research using various methods has claimed the material nature, including nanoparticles (NPs), of high homeopathic potencies. The current study aims to verify these findings using NP tracking analysis (NTA). METHODS Six independent serial dilutions of commonly used homeopathic medicines-either soluble (Gelsemium, Pyrogenium, Kalium mur) or insoluble (Cuprum, Argentum, Silicea)-were prepared according to European Pharmacopoeia standards. We compared the homeopathic dynamisations (DYNs) in pure water with their potentised controls and with simple dilutions (DIL) up to 30cH/10-60. We also tested the influence of the container (glass or PET) on the solvent controls. RESULTS We observed the presence of particles from 20 to 300-400 nm in all DYNs, DILs and controls, except in pure unstirred water. The sizes and size distributions of NPs in high homeopathic potencies were smaller than those in controls for soluble sources and larger for insoluble sources, even above 11cH. The opposite behaviour was observed in the number of NPs. When comparing DYN and DIL, the number, size, presence of aggregates or chains and brightness of NPs increased with DYNs, which was also observed above 11cH. Many NPs scattered light of low intensity, indicating the presence of material particles. The container had a significant effect on the number and size of NPs, indicating the involvement of the atmosphere and leaching processes. CONCLUSION Homeopathic medicines contain NPs with specific properties, even when diluted beyond Avogadro's number. Homeopathic potentisation is not a simple dilution. The starting material, the solvent used, the type of container and the manufacturing method influence the characteristics of these NPs. The nature of these NPs is not known, but most likely they are a mixture of nanobubbles and elements from the atmosphere and container, including insoluble ones.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martine Goyens
- Pharmaceutical Association for Homeopathy, Wépion, Belgium
| | - Pierre Dorfman
- M.R.C. Endowment Fund, Private Academy of Science™, Meyzieu, France
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Tournier AL, Bonamin LV, Buchheim-Schmidt S, Cartwright S, Dombrowsky C, Doesburg P, Holandino C, Kokornaczyk MO, van de Kraats EB, López-Carvallo JA, Nandy P, Mazón-Suástegui JM, Mirzajani F, Poitevin B, Scherr C, Thieves K, Würtenberger S, Baumgartner S. Scientific guidelines for preclinical research on potentised preparations manufactured according to current pharmacopoeias-the PrePoP guidelines. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2024:S2095-4964(24)00341-8. [PMID: 39013752 DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2024.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pharmacopoeias regulate the manufacture of potentised pharmaceutical preparations used in different branches of complementary and integrative medicine. The physicochemical properties and biological activity of these preparations are often investigated in preclinical research, yet no guidelines for experimental research currently exist in this area. The present PrePoP guidelines aim to provide recommendations to promote high-quality, statistically sound, and reproducible preclinical research on potentised preparations. METHODS Input was gathered from researchers nominated by the relevant scientific societies using a simplified Delphi consensus approach covering the most relevant aspects of basic research methodology in the field including appropriate controls, sample preparation and handling, and statistics. After three rounds of feedback, a consensus was finally reached on the most important aspects and considerations for conducting high-quality research on potentised preparations. RESULTS We present a series of recommendations on a range of topics including experimental controls, system stability, blinding and randomisation, environmental influences, and procedures for the preparation of potentised samples and controls, and we address some specific challenges of this research field. CONCLUSION This expert consensus process resulted in a robust set of methodological guidelines for research on potentised preparations and provides a valuable framework that will inform and improve the quality of subsequent research in this emerging field. PLEASE CITE THIS ARTICLE AS Tournier AL, Bonamin LV, Buchheim-Schmidt S, Cartwright S, Dombrowsky C, Doesburg P, Holandino C, Kokornaczyk MO, van de Kraats EB, López-Carvallo JA, Nandy P, Mazón-Suástegui JM, Mirzajani F, Poitevin B, Scherr C, Thieves K, Würtenberger S, Baumgartner S. Scientific guidelines for preclinical research on potentised preparations manufactured according to current pharmacopoeias-the PrePoP guidelines. J Integr Med. 2024; Epub ahead of print.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander L Tournier
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Integrative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; Homeopathy Research Institute, London SW7 4EF, United Kingdom.
| | - Leoni V Bonamin
- Graduate Program on Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, São Paulo 01504-000, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Susann Buchheim-Schmidt
- Department of Medical Science, Deutsche Homöopathie-Union DHU-Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG, 76227 Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Steven Cartwright
- Cherwell Laboratory for Fundamental Research in Homeopathy, Oxford OX2 8NU, Oxforeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph Dombrowsky
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Paul Doesburg
- Society for Cancer Research, Hiscia Research Institute, 4144 Arlesheim, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carla Holandino
- Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Olga Kokornaczyk
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Society for Cancer Research, Hiscia Research Institute, 4144 Arlesheim, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Jesús Antonio López-Carvallo
- Departamento de Acuicultura, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, 1790437 Coquimbo, Elqui, Chile
| | - Papiya Nandy
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Education, Kolkata, West Bengal 700068, West Bengal, India
| | - José Manuel Mazón-Suástegui
- Laboratorio de Homeopatía Acuícola y Semillas Marinas, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz 23096, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - Fateme Mirzajani
- Protein Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 1983969411, Iran; Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Science, Knowledge University, 44001 Erbil, Erbil, Iraq
| | | | - Claudia Scherr
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; Society for Cancer Research, Hiscia Research Institute, 4144 Arlesheim, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Karin Thieves
- Sola Salus, Institute for Homeopathic Research, 52511 Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | | | - Stephan Baumgartner
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Integrative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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Demangeat JL. Water proton NMR relaxation revisited: Ultrahighly diluted aqueous solutions beyond Avogadro’s limit prepared by iterative centesimal dilution under shaking cannot be considered as pure solvent. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.119500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Tournier A, Würtenberger S, Klein SD, Baumgartner S. Physicochemical Investigations of Homeopathic Preparations: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis-Part 3. J Altern Complement Med 2020; 27:45-57. [PMID: 33121261 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2020.0243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: In parts I and II of our review of physicochemical research performed on homeopathic preparations, we identified relevant publications and analyzed the data in terms of individual experiments, looking for the most promising techniques that were used in the past. In this third part, we analyze the results of the experiments seeking to extract information about the possible modes of action underpinning homeopathic preparations. Methods: We summarized the results from the 11 experimental areas previously introduced, extracting the general findings and trends. We also summarized the results in terms of specific research topics: aging, medium used for potentization, sample volume, temperature, material of potentization vessel, and, finally, the use of molecules to probe homeopathic samples. Results: We identified a number of effects that appear consistently throughout the data: Differences to controls seem to increase with: time, moderate temperature, small samples volume, and in ionic medium, whereas high temperatures seem to abolish differences to controls. Based on the present analysis, there is no consistent evidence to date for the nanoparticle hypothesis to explain specific homeopathic treatment effects. However, the quantum coherence domain hypothesis, the dynamic water cluster hypothesis, and the weak quantum theory are still contenders and need to be further assessed experimentally. Conclusions: The field requires further targeted experimentation to validate past findings reporting differences between homeopathic dilutions and controls, and to expand these findings by specifically testing the three main working hypotheses that are currently at hand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Tournier
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Water Research Lab, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sandra Würtenberger
- Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Hevert-Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG, Nussbaum, Germany
| | - Sabine D Klein
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Baumgartner
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Society for Cancer Research, Arlesheim, Switzerland.,Institute of Integrative Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany
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Tournier A, Klein SD, Würtenberger S, Wolf U, Baumgartner S. Physicochemical Investigations of Homeopathic Preparations: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis-Part 2. J Altern Complement Med 2019; 25:890-901. [PMID: 31290681 PMCID: PMC6760181 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2019.0064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: In Part 1 of the review of physicochemical research performed on homeopathic preparations the authors identified relevant publications of sufficient reporting quality for further in-depth analysis. In this article, the authors analyze these publications to identify any empirical evidence for specific physicochemical properties of homeopathic preparations and to identify most promising experimental techniques for future studies. Methods: After an update of the literature search up to 2018, the authors analyzed all publications in terms of individual experiments. They extracted information regarding methodological criteria such as blinding, randomization, statistics, controls, sample preparation, and replications, as well as regarding experimental design and measurement methods applied. Scores were developed to identify experimental techniques with most reliable outcomes. Results: The publications analyzed described 203 experiments. Less than 25% used blinding and/or randomization, and about one third used adequate controls to identify specific effects of homeopathic preparations. The most promising techniques used so far are nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation, optical spectroscopy, and electrical impedance measurements. In these three areas, several sets of replicated high-quality experiments provide evidence for specific physicochemical properties of homeopathic preparations. Conclusions: The authors uncovered a number of promising experimental techniques that warrant replication to assess the reported physicochemical properties of homeopathic preparations compared with controls. They further discuss a range of experimental aspects that highlight the many factors that need to be taken into consideration when performing basic research into homeopathic potentization. For future experiments, the authors generally recommend using succussed (vigorously shaken) controls, or comparing different homeopathic preparations with each other to reliably identify any specific physicochemical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Tournier
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Water Research Lab, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabine D Klein
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Würtenberger
- Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Hevert-Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG, Nussbaum, Germany
| | - Ursula Wolf
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Baumgartner
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Society for Cancer Research, Arlesheim, Switzerland.,Institute of Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany
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Klein SD, Würtenberger S, Wolf U, Baumgartner S, Tournier A. Physicochemical Investigations of Homeopathic Preparations: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis-Part 1. J Altern Complement Med 2018; 24:409-421. [PMID: 29377709 PMCID: PMC5961874 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2017.0249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The last systematic review of physicochemical research performed on homeopathic preparations was published in 2003. The aim of the study is to update and expand the current state of knowledge in the area of physicochemical properties of homeopathic preparations. In part 1 of the study, we aim to present an overview of the literature with respect to publication quality and methods used. In part 2, we aim to identify the most interesting experimental techniques. With this, we aim to be in a position to generate meaningful hypotheses regarding a possible mode of action of homeopathic preparations. Methods: A two-step procedure was adopted: (1) an extensive literature search, followed by a bibliometric and quality analysis on the level of publications and (2) a thorough qualitative analysis of the individual physicochemical investigations found. In this publication, we report on step (1). We searched major scientific databases to find publications reporting physicochemical investigations of homeopathy from its origin to the end of 2015. Publications were assessed using a scoring scheme, the Manuscript Information Score (MIS). Information regarding country of origin of the research and experimental techniques used was extracted. Results: We identified 183 publications (compared to 44 in the last review), 122 of which had an MIS ≥5. The rate of publication in the field was ∼2 per year from the 1970s until 2000. Afterward, it increased to over 5.5 publications per year. The quality of publications was seen to increase sharply from 2000 onward, whereas before 2000, only 12 (13%) publications were rated as “high quality” (MIS ≥7.5); 44 (48%) publications were rated as “high quality” from 2000 onward. Countries with most publications were Germany (n = 42, 23%), France (n = 29, 16%), India (n = 27, 15%), and Italy (n = 26, 14%). Techniques most frequently used were electrical impedance (26%), analytical methods (20%), spectroscopy (20%), and nuclear magnetic resonance (19%). Conclusions: Physicochemical research into homeopathic preparations is increasing both in terms of quantity and quality of the publications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine D Klein
- 1 Institute of Complementary Medicine, University of Bern , Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Würtenberger
- 2 Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Hevert-Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG , Nussbaum, Germany
| | - Ursula Wolf
- 1 Institute of Complementary Medicine, University of Bern , Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Baumgartner
- 1 Institute of Complementary Medicine, University of Bern , Bern, Switzerland .,3 Society for Cancer Research , Arlesheim, Switzerland .,4 Institute of Integrative Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke , Witten, Germany
| | - Alexander Tournier
- 1 Institute of Complementary Medicine, University of Bern , Bern, Switzerland .,5 Homeopathy Research Institute , London, United Kingdom
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Hibou F. Could the study of cavitation luminescence be useful in high dilution research? HOMEOPATHY 2017; 106:181-190. [PMID: 28844291 DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2011] [Revised: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cavitation in agitated liquids has been discussed for over five decades as a phenomenon that could play a role in the appearance of structural changes in the solvent of potentised dilutions. However, its lack of specificity as well as the absence of experimental confirmation have so far confined the idea to theory. The light emission associated with cavitational bubble collapse can be used to detect and study cavitation in fluids. The phenomenon has been extensively studied when driven by ultrasound, where it is called sonoluminescence. Sonoluminescence spectra reflect extremely high temperature and pressure in the collapsing bubbles and are parameter sensitive. This article tries to examine whether, despite objections and difficulties, the detection or the study of cavitational luminescence in solutions during potentisation could be useful as a physical tool in high dilution research.
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8
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Comparison of homeopathic globules prepared from high and ultra-high dilutions of various starting materials by ultraviolet light spectroscopy. Complement Ther Med 2016; 24:111-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2015.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Revised: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Schulte J. Experimental physical methods and theories--then and now. HOMEOPATHY 2015; 104:305-10. [PMID: 26678734 DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2015.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Revised: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A first evaluation of fundamental research into the physics and physiology of Ultra high dilutions (UHDs) was conducted by the author in 1994(1). In this paper we revisit methods and theories from back then and follow their paths through their evolution and contribution to new knowledge in UHD research since then. METHOD Physical methods and theories discusses in our anthology on UHD in 1994(1) form the basis for tracing ideas and findings along their path of further development and impact on new knowledge in UHD. RESULTS Experimental approaches to probe physical changes in homeopathic preparations have become more sophisticated over past two decades, so did the desire to report results to a scientific standard that is on par with those in specialist literature. The same cannot be said about underlying supporting theoretical models and simulations. CONCLUSION Grant challenges in science often take a more targeted and more concerted approach to formulate a research question and then look for answers. A concerted effort to focus on one hypothesized physical aspect of a well-defined homeopathic preparation may help aligning experimental methods with theoretical models and, in doing so, help to gain a deeper understanding of the whole body of insights and data produced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jurgen Schulte
- Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
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10
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Gorlowska K, Gorlowska J, Skibiński R, Komsta Ł. Chemometrics meets homeopathy--an exploratory analysis of infrared spectra of homeopathic granules. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2015; 115:36-8. [PMID: 26148470 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2015.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Revised: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
10 homeopathic remedies commercially available (each in 3 dilutions) as sugar granules, where half of them were of organic (and half inorganic) origin were subjected to solid-state infrared spectroscopy, both in middle infrared (ATR-FTIR) and near infrared (NIR) range. Measurements were repeated six times (six days, each sample was measured once in the same day, samples were measured in random order). The obtained spectra was subjected to unsupervised (PCA) and supervised (PLS-DA) chemometric techniques to check any visible differnces in spectral data between homeopathic remedies, including also feature selection approaches. It can be concluded that the only one information encoded in this dataset is the atmospheric drift of spectra between consecutive measurement days. This proves that homeopathy is not "infrared visible" in the case of proper experimental design. These results can be useful in further investigations of possible mechanisms of action of homeopathy (if they exist).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gorlowska
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Gorlowska
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Robert Skibiński
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Łukasz Komsta
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland.
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Klein SD, Wolf U. Investigating homeopathic verum and placebo globules with UV spectroscopy. Complement Med Res 2013; 20:295-297. [PMID: 24030453 DOI: 10.1159/000354408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sabine D Klein
- Institute of Complementary Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
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12
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Demangeat JL. Nanosized solvent superstructures in ultramolecular aqueous dilutions: twenty years' research using water proton NMR relaxation. HOMEOPATHY 2013; 102:87-105. [DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2013.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2012] [Revised: 11/07/2012] [Accepted: 01/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Differences in Median Ultraviolet Light Transmissions of Serial Homeopathic Dilutions of Copper Sulfate, Hypericum perforatum, and Sulfur. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2013; 2013:370609. [PMID: 23401712 PMCID: PMC3562573 DOI: 10.1155/2013/370609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2012] [Revised: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Homeopathic remedies are produced by potentising, that is, the serial logarithmic dilution and succussion of a mother tincture. Techniques like ultraviolet spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, calorimetry, or thermoluminescence have been used to investigate their physical properties. In this study, homeopathic centesimal (c) potencies (6c to 30c) of copper sulfate, Hypericum perforatum, and sulfur as well as succussed water controls were prepared. Samples of these preparations were exposed to external physical factors like heat, pressure, ultraviolet radiation, or electromagnetic fields to mimic possible everyday storage conditions. The median transmissions from 190 nm to 340 nm and 220 nm to 340 nm were determined by ultraviolet light spectroscopy on five measurement days distributed over several months. Transmissions of controls and potencies of sulfur differed significantly on two of five measurement days and after exposure to physical factors. Transmissions of potencies exposed to ultraviolet light and unexposed potencies of copper sulfate and Hypericum perforatum differed significantly. Potency levels 6c to 30c were also compared, and wavelike patterns of higher and lower transmissions were found. The Kruskal-Wallis test yielded significant differences for the potency levels of all three substances. Aiming at understanding the physical properties of homeopathic preparations, this study confirmed and expanded the findings of previous studies.
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Wang W, Dong H, Pacheco V, Willbold D, Zhang Y, Offenhaeusser A, Hartmann R, Weirich TE, Ma P, Krause HJ, Gu Z. Relaxation Behavior Study of Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles at Ultralow and Ultrahigh Magnetic Fields. J Phys Chem B 2011; 115:14789-93. [DOI: 10.1021/jp2066138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 610064 Chengdu, China
- Peter Gruenberg Institute (PGI-8), Research Center Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany
| | - Hui Dong
- Peter Gruenberg Institute (PGI-8), Research Center Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany
- State key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Informatics, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200050 Shanghai, China
| | - Victor Pacheco
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6), Research Center Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany
- Central Division of Analytical Chemistry (ZCH), Research Center Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6), Research Center Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Yi Zhang
- Peter Gruenberg Institute (PGI-8), Research Center Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany
| | | | - Rudolf Hartmann
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6), Research Center Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany
| | - Thomas E. Weirich
- Central Facility for Electron Microscopy and Institute of Crystallography, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Peixiang Ma
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6), Research Center Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany
| | - Hans-Joachim Krause
- Peter Gruenberg Institute (PGI-8), Research Center Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany
| | - Zhongwei Gu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 610064 Chengdu, China
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Chatfield K. Progress in the Placebo Debate for Homeopathy? J Altern Complement Med 2011; 17:663-4. [DOI: 10.1089/acm.2011.0420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kate Chatfield
- School of Health, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom
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Isopathic treatment effects of Arsenicum album 45x on wheat seedling growth--further reproduction trials. HOMEOPATHY 2010; 98:198-207. [PMID: 19945675 DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2009.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2009] [Revised: 09/18/2009] [Accepted: 09/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Two experimental studies on wheat preintoxicated with Arsenic trioxide yielded a significant shoot growth increase after an isopathic application of Ars-alb 45x. One independent reproduction trial however, yielded an effect inversion: wheat shoot growth was significantly decreased after application of Ars-alb 45x. AIMS In this study we investigated the role of three potential confounding factors on the experimental outcome: geographical location of the experiments, influence of the main experimenter, and seed sensitivity to Arsenic poisoning. Laboratory-internal reproducibility was assessed by meta-analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Wheat poisoned with Arsenic trioxide was cultivated in vitro in either Ars-alb 45x, water 45x, or unpotentised water. Treatments were blinded and randomised. Shoot length was measured after 7 days. The stability of the experimental set-up was assessed by systematic negative control (SNC) experiments. RESULTS The SNC experiments did not yield significant differences between the three groups treated with unpotentised water. Thus the experimental set-up seemed to be stable. We did not observe any shoot growth increase after a treatment with Ars-alb 45x in any of the newly performed experiments. In contrast, the meta-analysis of all 17 experiments performed (including earlier experiments already published) yielded a statistically significant shoot growth decrease (-3.2%, p=0.017) with isopathic Ars-alb 45x treatment. This effect was quantitatively similar across all five series of experiments. CONCLUSIONS Ultramolecular Ars-alb 45x led to statistically significant specific effects in arsenic poisoned wheat when investigated by two independent working groups. Effect size and effect direction differ, however. The investigated factors (geographical location, experimenter, seed sensitivity to Arsenic poisoning) did not seem to be responsible for the effect inversion. Laboratory external reproducibility of basic research into homeopathic potentisation remains a difficult issue.
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