Homeopathic Basic Science Research

Basic Science Research Grant

The American Medical College of Homeopathy is pleased and honored to announce that we have received a basic science research grant from the AlterMed Research Foundation based in Fort Collins, Colorado (www.AlterMedResearch.org) to perform a one-year study on “Evidence-Based Research on the Nanoparticle Nature of Homeopathic Medicines.” Iris Bell, MD PhD, Head of the AMCH Department of Research, is the Principal Investigator for this project.

This developmental exploratory project will use cutting-edge nanotechnology methods to test for the presence or absence, sizes, concentrations, and optical properties of nanoparticles in three different homeopathic medicines in three different potencies and their respective control (placebo) solutions. Test materials will be manufactured by Hahnemann Laboratories (San Rafael, CA) in 6C, 30C, and 200C potencies in accordance with standards of the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States. The test materials will then be randomized and tested by experts in specialized nanotechnology laboratories in the United States under blinded conditions.

In modern nanoparticle forms, these source materials have previously shown anti-cancer effects on cancer cells in the test tube. Nanoparticles are extremely small particles measuring from 1 to 100 nanometers along at least one side. Their small size leads to unique electromagnetic , optical, biochemical, and even quantum mechanical effects (e.g., entanglement) that larger sized or bulk particles of the “same” material do not possess.
Nanoparticle forms of natural medicinal agents such as herbs and minerals and of conventional synthetic drugs have enhanced biological effects, usually leading to lower doses separated in time from one another, longer durations of action, better targeting, and fewer side effects. Because of their small size and associated reactive surfaces, tiny concentrations of certain nanoparticles even down to the parts per billion range are still very active chemically and biologically.

The core objection of skeptics has been that the serial dilution preparation steps during homeopathic manufacturing should remove all traces of the original source material, eventually leaving no detectable active agent. As a result, skeptics assume that homeopathic medicines are merely inert placebos with no biological activity. Their focus has been not on nanomaterials, but rather based on the assumptions they have concerning dilution and dosing of source materials of conventional drugs in bulk scale forms.

On the contrary, several different recent studies have published preliminary electron microscopic evidence that metal and plant-based homeopathic medicines in potencies of 6C, 30C and 200C and from 1C to 15C contain small concentrations of source material nanoparticles. Silica has also been found in homeopathically succussed materials made in glass; nanosilica is a non-specific amplifier of immune responses to cancer cells and infectious agents. Other research has shown how nanoparticles can be transferred from step to step during homeopathic manufacturing. However, previous studies have not been performed in a randomized and blinded manner and need independent laboratory testing.

Classical homeopathic manufacturing methods turn out to be early discoveries of similar methods used today in modern nanotechnology to make nanoparticles. The fundamental steps of homeopathic manufacturing include trituration (prolonged periods of milling or grinding in lactose) and/or succussions in water or water-alcohol solvent (intense agitation in solutions). Milling and turbulent agitation in solutions are how modern nanotechnologists routinely use to make “top down” nanoparticles by breaking down larger bulk forms into smaller and smaller particles. They also use agitation to disperse aggregated particles back into solution in smaller particle sizes.

Nanochemists and nanotoxicologists have discovered that smaller particles and more dilute solutions are sometimes more powerful chemically and biologically than more concentrated solutions of nanoparticles. This observation stems partly from the ability of dilution to keep the highly reactive surfaces of each nanoparticle from physically colliding with another particle in solution and inactivating each other.
The new research study will thus attempt to replicate and extend prior investigations. In keeping with research as a core value of AMCH, this project positions us at the forefront of cutting-edge basic science research on homeopathic medicines. We welcome additional support for other basic science studies on the nature and biological mechanisms of homeopathic medicines.

• What is LIfe?

Articles

Becker-Witt C, Weibhuhn T.E.R., Ludtke, R., Willich, S.N. Quality assessment of physical research in homeopathy. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine 2003; 9 (1):113-32. Becker-Witt
Bell IR, Lewis, D., Brooks, A.J., Lewis, S., Schwartz, G.E. Gas discharge visualization evaluation of ultramolecular doses of homeopathic medicines under blinded, controlled conditions. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine 2003c; 9: 25-38. Bell IR
Bellavite P, Ortolani R, Pontarollo F et al. Immunology and homeopathy. 4. Clinical studies-part 2. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2006; 3 (4):397-409. Bellavite P #1, Bellavite P #2
Belon P, Cumps J, Ennis M, Mannaioni PF, Roberfroid M, Sainte-Laudy J, Wiegant FA. Histamine dilutions modulate basophil activation. Inflamm Res. 2004; 53 (5):181-8. Belon P
Binder M, Baumgartner S, Thurneysen A. The effects of a 45x potency of arsenicum album on wheat seedling growth — a reproduction trial. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2005; 12 (5):284-91. Bindeer M
Brizzi M, Lazzarato L, Nani D et al. A biostatistical insight into the As(2)O(3) high dilution effects on the rate and variability of wheat seedling growth. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2005; 12 (5):277-83. Brizzi M
Dittmann J, Harisch G. Characterization of differing effects caused by homeopathically prepared and conventional dilutions using cytochrome P450 2E1 and other enzymes as detection systems. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine. 1996; 2 (2):279-90. Dittmann J
Elia V, Niccoli, M. New physico-chemical properties of extremely diluted aqueous solutions. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 2004; 75:815-36. Elia V
Elia V, Niccoli, M. Thermodynamics of extremely diluted aqueous solutions. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1999; 879:241-8. Elia V
Linde K, Jonas, W.B., Melchart, D., Worku, F., Wagner, H., Eitel, F. Critical review and meta-analysis of serial agitated dilutions in experimental toxicology. Human Experimental Toxicology 1994; 13:481-92. Linde K
Porozov S, Cahalon L, Weiser M et al. Inhibition of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha secretion from resting and activated human immunocytes by the homeopathic medication Traumeel S. Clinical & Developmental Immunology 2004; 11 (2):143-9. Porozov S
Rey L. Thermoluminescence of ultra-high dilutions of lithium chloride and sodium chloride. Physica A: Statistical mechanics and its applications. 2003; 323:67-74.
Roy R, Tiller W, Bell IR et al. The Structure of Liquid Water: Novel Insights from Materials Research and Potential Relevance to Homeopathy. Materials Research Innovation 2005; 9 (4):557-608.
Tiller WA. On chemical medicine, thermodynamics, and homeopathy. J Altern Complement Med 2006; 12 (7):685-93. Tiller WA
Vickers AJ. Independent replication of pre-clinical research in homeopathy: a systematic review. Forschende Komplementarmedizin 1999; 6 (6):311-20. Vickers AJ
Witt C, Ludtke R, Weisshuhn TE et al. High homeopathic potencies are different from potentized solvent when investigated with the REDEM technology. Forschende Komplementarmedizin und Klassische Naturheilkunde 2005b; 12 (1):6-13. Witt C
Witt CM, Bluth M, Hinderlich S et al. Does potentized HgCl2 (Mercurius corrosivus) affect the activity of diastase and alpha-amylase? J Altern Complement Med 2006a; 12 (4):359-65. Witt CM
Witt CM, Ludtke R, Weisshuhn TE et al. The role of trace elements in homeopathic preparations and the influence of container material, storage duration, and potentisation. Forsch Komplementarmed 2006b; 13 (1):15-21. Witt CM