Guest Editorial: Scientific Research of Homeopathy
by Kathleen Scheible
I am very excited about the range of global scientific research being conducted on homeopathy. I’m happy to co-edit this edition for the California Homeopath and bring some of this research to you. We have featured an array of topics, including: groundbreaking characterization of the nature of the remedies; hypothesis of mechanism of action; positive RCT double blind placebo controlled studies; challenges with the current scientific paradigm in studying homeopathy; and adoption of homeopathy in a public health setting based on cost-effectiveness and efficacy. This edition brings you up to date on the scientific study of homeopathy.
A big thanks to Dr. Iris Bell, MD PhD, for writing “Adaptive Network Nanomedicine: Solving the Homeopathy Puzzle One (Small) Scientific Step at a Time” for this scientific edition of the California Homeopath. The article puts her latest ideas and the most current homeopathic mechanism research into a very good context for us. It is a comprehensive overview of the cutting-edge scientific hypothesis of proposed mechanism/s of homeopathic remedies on human/organism health and supporting scientific research.
Nanomedicine, the use of nanotechnology in medicine, is a burgeoning field within conventional medicine. In this context, nanoparticles and nanostructures (100 nm or less in size or < 1X10^-7 m) are utilized mostly for conventional drug delivery to targeted areas in the body, and in getting therapeutic substances past the blood-brain barrier. Dr. Bell’s hypothesis proposes that the nanoparticles of the source material found in homeopathic remedies are utilized as “early warning” signs of a potentially larger, more toxic dose of the substance, and our organism mobilizes a range of biological responses in order to maximize our chances for survival and health. She cites known physiological response models as support for this hypothesis, including the concept of hormesis.
Continuing to look at the nature of homeopathic remedies using scientific tools, we have “A Study of the Validity of High Potency Homeopathic Remedies” by Shirl Airov-Bieling, N.D., DIHom, ATR. In this paper, we get a magnified glimpse into the morphology of homeopathic remedy preparations on the micrometer scale (17.2 μm or 17, 200 nm). Dr. Shirl indicates that the remedies in potency have unique, remedy-specific morphology at this level. Dr. Shirl’s images of the remedies are taken at a magnification level orders of magnitude larger than the typical size of nanoparticles found of source material in the remedies, as cited by Dr. Iris Bell: ~0.5 nm – 150 nm for particles and up to 2000 nm for aggregates observed to date.
Some studies have shown that nanoparticle size in the remedies tends to shrink with increased potency level, including the comprehensive article “A review of Basic Research on Homoeopathy from a physicist's point of view” by Papiya Nandy, published in the Indian Journal of Research in Homeopathy. As Dr. Bell has stated, the smallest nanoparticles within the remedies are on the scale of “quantum dots,” which are associated with quantum entanglement and other unique physics properties. These higher potencies are those which we, as homeopaths, give to our clients more often for mental and emotional issues. They are also considered for lack of spiritual health or multi-generational (“inherited”) trauma. So it’s interesting to see there is potential quantum effect associated with particles the size of which is found in our higher potency remedies. Indeed, geneticists are confirming that trauma can be passed down in our DNA, and many homeopaths have heralded this finding as consistent with our clinical experience.
However, some of the latest research conducted by Dr. Bell et al, in conjunction with Hahnemann Laboratories, on the amount and nature of nanoparticles in various preparation methods and materials indicates, that it may be more complex. In “Nanoparticle Characterization of Traditional Homeopathically- Manufactured Gelsemium sempervirens Medicines and Placebo Controls”, which was published in the Journal of Nanomedicine & Biotherapeutic Discovery, we learn that not only do silicate structures from the glassware form during mechanical succusion of homeopathic remedies, but if a traditional cork stopper is used, then the resultant biological nanostructure that forms (possibly in conjunction with plant-based remedy nanostructures) may also be stabilizing to the verum nanostructures, resulting in high surface charge as a characteristic.
An Overview of Positive Homeopathy Research and Surveys published by The European Network of Homeopathy Researchers (EHNR) in March, 2007 highlights in a very detailed way some of the best scientific studies about homeopathic efficacy for specific conditions up through 2006. The report also gives some great context as to why homeopathic intervention can make a big impact in areas of public health concern including: Diarrhea in children; Respiratory tract complaints; Muscular-skeletal problems; Hay fever, asthma and perennial rhinitis; Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS); Menopausal complaints; Homeopathy after oestrogen withdrawal; Hot flashes after breast cancer therapy; Infertility; Sperm quality; Pregnancy-related problems; ADHD; ME/CFS; Surgery and Dengue haemorrhagic fever.
The lens of scientific study is a tool like any other, with power to create great insight, and with great limitations as well. After all, we can only learn about what we seek to study or discover within known frameworks for understanding and physical laws. In the article “In the Pursuit of Evidence”, by Kate Chatfield, RSHom, Kate gives a succinct but powerful overview of the challenges in creating scientific studies on the efficacy of homeopathy, and also in getting scientific validation of homeopathy to be acknowledged or accepted. She also makes a powerful case for what many scientists around the world (particularly in India and certain European countries) are already doing – studying why homeopathy works, not whether it can work, as clearly hundreds of millions around the world and growing numbers employ it.
Despite challenges with scientific research into homeopathy, the Swiss government has recently (March 2016) decided to consider five forms of medicine, including homeopathy, as legitimate medicine, for the sake of utilization within the national system. In 2011, they had published Homeopathy in Healthcare: Effectiveness, Appropriateness, Safety, Costs by Bornhoft Matthiessen, which Dana Ullman, MPH, CCH puts into great context in this excerpt from his Huffington Post blog entry, “The Swiss Government’s Remarkable Report on Homeopathic Medicine”.
We have much to look forward to in future homeopathic scientific research! To stay up to date, “Like” the California Homeopathic Medical Society Facebook Page, as we are committed to highlighting good research. Other good sources of information on and summaries of scientific research on homeopathy include:
Homeopathic Research Institute - https://www.hri-research.org/
The National Center for Homeopathy Research Library - http://www.homeopathycenter.org/research
Evidence Based Homeoapthic Family Medicine, e-book subscription by Dana Ullman, MPH, CCH - https://www.homeopathic.com/cms-global/shoppingcart/ViewProduct.do?productId=227
Individual studies PubMed - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed