Series of experiments performed with the droplet evaporation method on low potencies

Homeopathic preparations in low potencies, containing still measurable quantities of the starting substance, constitute a unique research field in homeopathic basic research. Here a series of experiments is presented carried out by means of the droplet evaporation method (DEM), investigating the specificity of the method, and presumed effects of the succussion procedure applied in the production of homeopathic preparations. Methods:DEM analysis consisted in the evaporation of droplets of the potencies perse placed on microscope slides. Resulting patterns were photographed. Images were evaluated by means of ImageJ software, by measuring grey level distribution, texture, and fractality. The experimentation consisted of four series: (i) screening (1x­6x potencies from 19 substances), (ii) differentiation experiments (2x­6x potencies of Echinacea, Baptisia, Luffa, and Spongia), (iii) differentiation between succussed (100 or 10 times) and unsuccussed samples (Echinacea 2x, Baptisia 3x, Baptisia 4x, Luffa 4x, and Spongia 6x). (iv) investigation of the influence upon the patterns of single compounds present in a remedy complex. The experimental set-up stability was examined by systematic positive control experiments. Results:(i) Homeopathic preparations of mineral origin showed the greatest form variety, whereas those of vegetal origin created fractal patterns in the potency range 2x­4x. (ii) Differentiation of potencies of different origin at the same dilution level was possible from 2x to 4x. (iii) In all potency levels, succussed (100 and 10 times) and unsuccussed variants could be significantly differentiated. Significant differences between all variants were found in some cases in potency levels 4x and higher. In general, application of succussion reduced size, homogeneity, and complexity of the DEM patterns. (iv) Patterns of a remedy complex Luffa 4x -Mercurius bijodatum 9x showed a clear predominance of the Luffa 4x; however also the second component, present in a much lower concentration, influenced significantly the pattern of the remedy complex as also differed significantly from the pattern of succussed water control. Conclusions:The results suggest that DEM is a suitable tool for scientific investigation of homeopathic preparations in the low potency range. DEM might be applied to assess further research questions, such different potentization procedures (vessel shape, overhead volume, material), storing time, and difference between batches.

Formation of Self-organized Structures in Drying Droplets: a Promising Analytical Tool for Homeopathy Basic Research

The droplet evaporation method (DEM) is based on the evaporation-induced pattern formation in droplets and is applied mainly for medical diagnosis[1].Here, we present aseries of experiments performed by our team showing DEMs potential also forhomeopathy basic research, in particular, for the investigation of(i) low potencies, (ii) low potency complexes (physical model), and (iii) the action of high potencies (plant-based model).Methods:(i) DEM differentiated significantly between Luffa, Baptisia, Echinacea, and Spongiauntil 4x[2]. Furthermore, the patterns varied in function of the numberof succussion strokes (0, 10, or 100) applied during potentization[3]. The performance of chaotic succussions vs. laminar flow vs. slight mixing during the potentization of Viscum album quercus3x influenced the DEM patterns; the chaotic succussions reduced, whereas laminar flow enhanced the patterns complexity vs. the unsuccussed control.(ii) The addition of Mercurius bijodatus9x to Luffa4x changed significantly the DEM patterns, even if the material quantity present in the 9x potency lied far beyond that of ultrapure water.(iii) Leakages obtained by placing healthy or arsenic-damaged wheat-seeds into Arsenicum album45x orheat-damaged intoZincum metallicum30c vs. water created significantly different DEM structures [4, 5]. Results:The damaged seeds put into the potency created structures characterized by a higher complexity than those obtained from damaged seeds put into control water. Furthermore, the potency action seemed to increase with rising numbers ofsuccussion strokes applied during potentization,ascould be shown by means of DEM patterns and germination rate using the same wheat-seed model[6].In all our studies, the pattern evaluation was computerized (texture and fractal analysis performed by means of ImageJ) or based on deep-learning algorithms and the robustness of the experimental system was checked by means of systematic control experiments.Conclusion:DEM together with other similarmethods has also been reviewed by our team for what concerns theapplication in homeopathy basic research[7].

High and ultra low concentrations of Mercuric chloride initiate their specific action on binding sites of invertase and modify its interaction with sucrose

Background: Mercuric chloride is known to inhibit the activity of enzymes. It is used in homeopathy at ultra low concentration (ULC) and is known as Mercurius corrosivus (Merc cor). ULCs of Merc cor are reported to promote enzyme activity. Objective: To see whether the mother tincture (θ) of Merc cor and its ULCs interact with an enzyme invertase at its binding sites and influence enzyme's action on its substrate sucrose. Methods: Merc cor θ (0.15 M HgCl2) was diluted with deionized and distilled (DD) water 1:100 and succussed 10 times to prepare Merc cor 1 cH or 1st potency. This potency was further diluted and succussed in 200 and 1000 steps to prepare 200cH and 1000cH potencies, respectively. Merc cor 200 cH and 1000cH were prepared in 90% ethanol. The two potencies and blank 90% EtOH were diluted with DD water 1:1000 to minimize ethanol content to a negligible amount 0.09%. The control was DD water (0.99g/M). The drugs, EtOH and water control were mixed separately with 0.037 mM invertase in DD water. Using an isothermal calorimetry (ITC) instrument the substrate sucrose (65mM) was injected at 2 µl every 2 min into 300 µl invertase solution 20 times at 25 0C. Molecular modeling study was done to predict possible binding sites and nature of binding between the enzyme and HgCl2, and between the enzyme and water. Potencies after dilution are virtually water. Fluorescence spectra of invertase (4µM) mixed with drug/control solutions were also obtained to see the effect of drugs on protein folding. Results: Thermodynamic parameters like binding constant (K), change in enthalpy(ΔH), entropy(ΔS) and Gibbs free energy(ΔG) showed marked variation in treatment effects on the enzyme. Molecular modeling study also shows variation in binding between invertase and HgCl2, and between invertase and water. Fluorescence spectra show variation in quenching related to different treatments. Conclusion: Merc cor mother tincture and its potencies interact at different binding sites of invertase and modify the enzyme's action on sucrose. So, potencies act as modulators of ligand, sucrose. Drug solutions induce conformational changes in the enzyme. (au)

Altas y bajas diluciones utilizadas en homeopatía: un mismo mecanismo de acción / Low and high dilutions used in homeopathy: a common mechanism of action

Es un hecho que la acción terapéutica de los medicamentos homeopáticos, obtenidos a través de diluciones y dinamizaciones sucesivas, no puede explicarse convincentemente a través de la lógica tradicional de la acción molecular, ya que incluso las potencias bajas carecen de la cantidad suficiente de sustancia medicamentosa para justificar una acción farmacológica como la que se plantea en la medicina alopática. Por tal motivo, en el presente artículo se propone una explicación diferente para comprender su funcionamiento: gracias a un proceso que podemos describir como una lógica informativa, el remedio homeopático actúa como un vehículo que transporta información biológica al organismo, mismo que al recibirla e interpretarla lleva a cabo determinadas modificaciones fisiológicas. Siguiendo esta lógica, dicho mecanismo se rige por sus propias regias, las cuales obedecen a parámetros distintos a los que imperan en la química molecular.

Altas y bajas diluciones utilizadas en homeopatía: un mismo mecanismo de acción / Low and high dilutions used in homeopathy: a common mechanism of action

Es un hecho que la acción terapéutica de los medicamentos homeopáticos, obtenidos a través de diluciones y dinamizaciones sucesivas, no puede explicarse convincentemente a través de la lógica tradicional de la acción molecular, ya que incluso las potencias bajas carecen de la cantidad suficiente de sustancia medicamentosa para justificar una acción farmacológica como la que se plantea en la medicina alopática. Por tal motivo, en el presente artículo se propone una explicación diferente para comprender su funcionamiento: gracias a un proceso que podemos describir como una lógica informativa, el remedio homeopático actúa como un vehículo que transporta información biológica al organismo, mismo que al recibirla e interpretarla lleva a cabo determinadas modificaciones fisiológicas. Siguiendo esta lógica, dicho mecanismo se rige por sus propias regias, las cuales obedecen a parámetros distintos a los que imperan en la química molecular.(AU)

Les basses dilutions homeopathiques / The low homeopathic dilutions

Les basses dilutions ont ete utilisees par les homeopathes depuis les debuts de l'homeopathie, et sont encore tres utilisees aujourd'hui. De tres nombreuses references bibliographiques en... (AU)

Statistical analysis of adaptive response in sister chromatid exchanges in human lymphocytes after treatment with very... to control variability

Previous studies have been interpreted as suggesting that low concentrations of N-methyl-N'-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) have an adaptive effect in the cultured lymphocytes of responsive donors (that is, the cells are protected against the mutagenic effects of a subsequent challenge with a higher concentration of MNNG). The objectives of the present study were to investigate, under stringent experimental conditions, whether a protective effect...(AU)

Une approche clinique des hautes dynamisations / A clinical approach to the high dynamization

En matiere de reflexion sur notre art, j'ai toujours donne la priorite a la similitude. Je ne possede donc, apres vingt-cinq ans de pratique, qu'un corpus restreint de regles de prescription de l'infinitesimal, suffisant cependant pour me permettre de prendre des decisions au quotidien. Comme tout... (AU)

Efeito de tratamento homeopatico na fibrosite (fibromialgia primaria) / Effect of homeopathic treatment on fibrositis (primary fibromyalgia)

A fibrosite (fibromialgia primaria) e uma condicao controvertida, mas que vem se tornando cada vez mais aceita. E de dificil tratamento. Demonstramos que o remedio homeopatico Rhus toxicodendron C6 foi eficaz para um sub-grupo selecionado de pacientes com fibrosite. A melhora em relacao a sensibilidade, que e o melhor discriminador da fibrosite, foi particularmente perceptivel. A melhora experimentada pelos nossos pacientes enquanto recebiam tratamento ativo foi, no minimo, tao grande quanto o relatado para muitos outros tratamentos que tem sido testados em ensaios de tipo duplo-cego. Somos gratos a Jean Boiron por suas opinioes e encorajamento

Utilizacao do nosodio Carrapatinum em bovinos sensiveis ao carrapato Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) / Carrapatinum nosode utilization in cattle sensitive to the tick Boophilus microplus (Conestrini)

O experimento relata a interferencia positiva de um medicamento homeopatico feito com femeas ingurgitadas de Boophilus microplus na 6 CH, utilizado na agua de bebida por 36 dias, na resistencia ao carrapato de bovinos mesticos europeu x zebu

Utilizacao do nosodio Carrapatinum em bovinos sensiveis ao carrapato Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) / Carrapatinum nosode utilization in cattle sensitive to the tick Boophilus microplus (Conestrini)

O experimento relata a interferencia positiva de um medicamento homeopatico feito com femeas ingurgitadas de Boophilus microplus na 6 CH, utilizado na agua de bebida por 36 dias, na resistencia ao carrapato de bovinos mesticos europeu x zebu