Bias in Homeopathy: Technical Note

Authors

  • Salvatore Chirumbolo University of Verona

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18034/mjmbr.v4i1.420

Keywords:

homeopathy, bias, dilutions, chemical system, water

Abstract

Homeopathy is fundamentally based on the assumption that a biological activity is borne by a chemical system made by a molecular solute within a solvent that is diluted and mechanically stressed an undefined number of times and then reaches a zero point where molecules disappear and the solvent is the only chemical species being left. With the exception of an author who recently stated “We have been working in this field for over 20 years [35], and are thus perfectly aware of the issues related to the “plausibility” of high-dilution pharmacology, particularly when using dilutions beyond Avogadro’s constant”, yet no evidence was reported to date about the real nature of homeopathic high dilutions.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

  • Salvatore Chirumbolo, University of Verona

    Department of Medicine, University of Verona, LURM Est Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale Al Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, ITALY

References

Adler UC, Krüger S, Teut M, Lüdtke R, Schützler L, Martins F, Willich SN, Linde K, Witt CM. Homeopathy for depression: a randomized, partially double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-armed study (DEP-HOM). PLoS One. 2013 Sep 23;8(9):e74537 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0074537

Bell IR, Lewis DA 2nd, Brooks AJ, Schwartz GE, Lewis SE, Walsh BT, Baldwin CM. Improved clinical status in fibromyalgia patients treated with individualized homeopathic remedies versus placebo. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2004 May;43(5):577-82 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keh111

Bellavite P, Magnani P, Conforti A, Marzotto M, Zanolini E. Effects of high dilutions in behavioural models: a commentary on critical issues from reproducibility to plausibility. Int J High Dilution Research 2011; 10(37):325-337

Bellavite P, Marzotto M, Olioso D, Moratti E, Conforti A. High-dilution effects revisited. 1. Physicochemical aspects. Homeopathy. 2014; 103(1):4-21 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2013.08.003

Bellavite P, Marzotto M, Olioso D, Moratti E, Conforti A. High-dilution effects revisited. 2. Pharmacodynamic mechanisms. Homeopathy. 2014; 103(1):22-43 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2013.08.002

Bellavite P, Signorini A, Marzotto M, Moratti E, Bonafini C, Olioso D. Cell sensitivity, non-linearity and inverse effects. Homeopathy. 2015, 104(2):139-160 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2015.02.002

Brizzi M, Elia V, Trebbi G, Nani D, Peruzzi M, Betti L. The efficacy of ultramolecular aqueous dilutions on a wheat germination model as a function of heat and aging-time. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:696298 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nep217

Chatterjee BK. The mathematics of dilution. Homeopathy. 2014; 103(2):143-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2013.11.005

Czerlinski G, Ypma T. Domains of water molecules provide mechanisms of potentization in homeopathy. Water J 2010; 2:1-13

Chikramane PS, Kalita D, Suresh AK, Kane SG, Bellare JR. Why extreme dilutions reach non-zero asymptotes: a nanoparticulate hypothesis based on froth flotation. Langmuir. 2012; 28(45):15864-75 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/la303477s

Chikramane PS, Suresh AK, Bellare JR, Kane SG. Extreme homeopathic dilutions retain starting materials: A nanoparticulate perspective. Homeopathy. 2010; 99(4):231-42 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2010.05.006

Chirumbolo S. Molecules and nanoparticles in extreme homeopathic dilutions: is Avogadro’s Constant a dogma? Homeopathy. 2011 Jul;100(3):107-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2011.02.015

Chirumbolo S. Adverse effects and homeopathy: may remedies yet contain noxious or toxic molecules? Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2014; 78(1):184-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.12259

Chirumbolo S. Homeopathy is not pharmacology. J Intern Med. 2013; 274(6):612-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12132

Csupor D, Boros K, Hohmann J. Low potency homeopathic remedies and allopathic herbal medicines: is there an overlap? PLoS One. 2013; 8(9):e74181 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0074181

Demangeat JL. Gas nanobubbles and aqueous nanostructures: the crucial role of dynamization. Homeopathy. 2015; 104(2):101-15 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2015.02.001

Elia V, Napoli E, Germano R. The ‘Memory of Water’: an almost deciphered enigma. Dissipative structures in extremely dilute aqueous solutions. Homeopathy. 2007; 96(3):163-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2007.05.007

Elia V, Marchettini N, Napoli E, Niccoli M. Calorimetric, conduttimetric and density measurements of iteratively filtered water using 450, 200, 100 and 25 nm Millipore filters J Therm Anal Calorimetry 2013; 114:927-936 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-013-3046-y

Elia V, Napoli E, Niccoli M. Calorimetric and conduttometric titrations of nanostructures of water molecole in iteratively filtered water J Therm Anal Calorimetry 2013; 111:815-821 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-011-2164-7

Elia V, Ausanio G, De Ninno A, Gentile F, Germano R, Napoli E. Experimental Evidence of Stable Aggregates of Water at Room Temperature and Normal Pressure After Iterative Contact with a Nafion® Polymer Membrane. Water (AU) 2013; 5:16-26

Elia V, Lista L, Napoli E, Niccoli M. A thermodynamic characterization of aqueous nanostructures of water molecules formed by prolonged contact with the hydrophilic polymer Nafion. J Therm Anal Calorimetry 2014; 115:1841-1849 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-013-3371-1

Elia V, Germano R, Napoli E. Permanent Dissipative Structures in Water: The Matrix of Life? Experimental Evidences and their Quantum Origin. Curr Top Med Chem. 2015; 15(6):559-71 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/1568026615666150225102531

Fisher P, Greenwood A, Huskisson EC, Turner P, Belon P. Effect of homeopathic treatment on fibrositis (primary fibromyalgia). BMJ. 1989 Aug 5;299(6695):365-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.299.6695.365

Gurevich KG, Agutter PS, Wheatley DN. Stochastic description of the ligand-receptor interaction of biologically active substances at extremely low doses. Cell Signal. 2003; 15(4):447-53 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0898-6568(02)00138-9

Macías-Cortés Edel C, Aguilar-Faisal L, Asbun-Bojalil J. Efficacy of individualized homeopathic treatment and fluoxetine for moderate to severe depression in peri- and postmenopausal women (HOMDEP-MENOP): study protocol for a randomized, double-dummy, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Trials. 2013 Apr 23;14:105 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-14-105

Magnani P, Conforti A, Zanolin E, Marzotto M, Bellavite P. Dose-effect study of Gelsemium sempervirens in high dilutions on anxiety-related responses in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2010; 210(4):533-45 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-010-1855-2

Marzotto M, Olioso D, Brizzi M, Tononi P, Cristofoletti M, Bellavite P. Extreme sensitivity of gene expression in human SH-SY5Y neurocytes to ultra-low doses of Gelsemium sempervirens. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014; 14:104 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-104

Milgrom LR. Is homeopathy possible? J R Soc Promot Health. 2006; 126(5):211-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1466424006068237

Olioso D, Marzotto M, Moratti E, Brizzi M, Bellavite P. Effects of Gelsemium sempervirens L. on pathway-focused gene expression profiling in neuronal cells. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014; 153(2):535-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.02.048

Peckham EJ, Nelson EA, Greenhalgh J, Cooper K, Roberts ER, Agrawal A.Homeopathy for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2013 Nov 13;11:CD009710 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009710.pub2

Pérol D, Provençal J, Hardy-Bessard AC, Coeffic D, Jacquin JP, Agostini C, Bachelot T, Guastalla JP, Pivot X, Martin JP, Bajard A, Ray-Coquard I. Can treatment with Cocculine improve the control of chemotherapy-induced emesis in early breast cancer patients? A randomized, multi-centered, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III trial. BMC Cancer. 2012 Dec 17;12:603 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-12-603

Roy R, Tiller WA, Bell I, Hoover MR. The structure of liquid water: novel insights from materials research, potential relevance for homeopathy Ind J Res Homeopathy, 2008; 3(2):1-24

Vallance AK. Can biological activity be maintained at ultra-high dilution? An overview of homeopathy, evidence, and Bayesian philosophy. J Altern Complement Med. 1998; 4(1):49-76 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.1998.4.1-49

Ynnon TA, Elia V. Dynamics in perturbed very diluted aqueous solutions: theory and experimental evidence. Int J Modern Phys B, 2013; 1550005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S0217979213500057

Zanasi A, Mazzolini M, Tursi F, Morselli-Labate AM, Paccapelo A, Lecchi M. Homeopathic medicine for acute cough in upper respiratory tract infections and acute bronchitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Feb;27(1):102-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pupt.2013.05.007

-- 0 --

Published

2017-06-30

Issue

Section

Peer-reviewed Article

How to Cite

Chirumbolo, S. . (2017). Bias in Homeopathy: Technical Note. Malaysian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 4(1), 25-28. https://doi.org/10.18034/mjmbr.v4i1.420