Water-Related Mechanisms Proposed for Storing and Transmitting Homeopathic Information: Putative Links with Biological Responses.

INTRODUCTION: There are two critical pillars of homeopathy that contrast with the dominant scientific approach: the similitude principle and the potentization of serial dilutions. Three main hypotheses about the mechanisms of action are in discussion: nanobubbles-related hormesis; vehicle-related electric resonance; and quantum non-locality. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to review and discuss some key points of such properties: the imprint of supramolecular structures based on the nanoparticle-allostatic, cross-adaptation-sensitization (NPCAS) model; the theory of non-molecular electromagnetic transfer of information, based on the coherent water domains model, and relying (like the NPCAS model) on the idea of local interactions; and the hypothesis of quantum entanglement, based on the concept of non-locality. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The nanoparticles hypothesis has been considered since 2010, after the demonstration of suspended metal nanoparticles even in very highly diluted remedies: their actual action on biological structures is still under scrutiny. The second hypothesis considers the idea of electric resonance mechanisms between living systems (including intracellular water) and homeopathic medicines: recent findings about potency-related physical properties corroborate it. Finally, quantum theory of 'non-local' phenomena inspires the idea of an 'entanglement' process among patient, practitioner and the remedy: that quantic phenomena could occur in supra-atomic structures remains speculative however. CONCLUSION: Further studies are needed to ascertain whether and which of these hypotheses may be related to potential cellular effects of homeopathic preparations, such as organization of metabolic pathways or selective gene expression.

A morphometric and molecular study of the apoptosis observed on tadpoles' tail explants under the exposition of triiodothyronine in different homeopathic dilutions.

BACKGROUND: As a therapeutic system, homeopathy is supported by: i) similitude and experimentation in healthy individuals, ii) potentization. A challenge for researchers consists in looking for signals in water (or vehicle) to explain the storage of information in extremely high dilutions and the transfer of such information to the living systems. Anuran amphibian metamorphosis is controlled by thyroid hormones (TH), including the resorption of the tadpole tail. Apoptosis is a genetically regulated form of cell death that can be triggered by various extracellular and intracellular stimuli resulting in coordinated activation of a family of cysteine proteases called caspases. METHODS: This study was blind and randomized. It performed in three stages: I) the identification of the most effective T3 homeopathic dilution to induce apoptotic reactions in Rana (Lithobates) catesbeianus tadpole tail explants stimulated by T3 in substantial, II) study of different controls and III) detection in explants under the action of the most effective dilution of T3, as established in Stage I. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between tail macroscopic dimensions between the groups. T3 10cH decreased the expression of caspase 3/7 mRNA, in explants treated with T3 20 nM. CONCLUSION: The present experiment is in agreement with the hypothesis that T3, at a 10cH homeopathic dilution, changes the metamorphosis molecular network.

Ultradiluição homeopática de triiodotironina altera a apoptose celular da cauda de girinos de Rana catesbeiana: in vitro / Ultra high dilution of triiodothyronine modifies the cellular apoptosis of Rana catesbeiana tadpole tail: in vitro

Ultradiluição (UHD) é o efeito de uma solução, diluída acima do número de Avogrado, que na dependência da sua dinamização (diluição com sucussão) induz um efeito celular supressivo ou estimulante, com conseqüente obtenção de uma curva dose-efeito oscilatória. Por outro lado, a 3,3,5 Triiodo-L-Tironina (T3) é o hormônio mais importante na indução e manutenção das mudanças metamórficas dos girinos, nelas incluídas a absorção da cauda. O presente estudo, cego e randomizado, tem como objetivo comprovar que o T3 5.10-24M (10ª cH) altera a apoptose induzida pelo T3 100 nM na cauda de girinos de Rana catesbeiana, in vitro. Foram distribuídos 60 explantes em três grupos: Grupo A: sem o estímulo do T3 em dose farmacológica e em UHD; Grupo B (teste): sob a ação de T3 100 nM e T3 10ª cH (5.10-24 M); Grupo C (controle): sob a ação do T3 100 nM e etanol 70% sem sucussão. A análise estatística da área dos explantes, no primeiro e ultimo dia do experimento, e do índice apoptótico foi realizado através do teste t Student e foi considerado estatisticamente significante quando p<0,05. Embora sem diferenças significativas na área dos explantes do grupo teste e no grupo controle, um maior e significante índice apoptótico foi identificado nos explantes do grupo teste. Este resultado confirma que o T3 na 10ª cH altera a ação do T3 em dose farmacológica. Futuros experimentos serão realizados, com diferentes dinamizações, com o objetivo da parametrização da curva dose-efeito.

Ultra High Dilution (UHD) is the effect of a solution, beyond the Avogadro limits, that in the dependence of the applied dinamization (dilution with succussion) elicits a suppressive or a stimulant effect on a living cell, with a consequent generation of an oscillatory dose-effect curve. The entire process of anuran amphibian metamorphosis is under thyroid hormones control, included the complete resorption of the tadpole tail. A random and blind study was performed, with the intent to prove that T3 5.10-24 M (10ª cH) modifies the apoptosis induction of T3 100 nM in Rana catesbeiana tadpoles tail tips, in vitro. 60 Explants were distributed in three ways: Group A: without T3 action, at pharmacological and UHD dose; Group B (test): under the action of T3 100 nM and treated with T3 10ª cH (UHD); Group C (control): under the action of T3 100 nM and treated with ethanol 70% unsuccussed. In order to identify significant differences in the area of the remainder explants, at the first and final day of the experiment, and in the apoptotic index we used a student t-test. Although we didnt find statistical difference in macroscopic tadpoles tail tips area from test and control groups, a high and significant (p<0,05) index of apoptosis in histology was found in explants of test group. This data confirms that T3 10 cH modifies the effect of T3 at pharmacological dose. More studies will be necessary, using different dinamizations, to the parameterization of the dose-effect curve proceeding from these experiments.