Dilution-Induced Physico-Chemical Changes of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Due to Homeopathic Preparation Steps of Trituration and Succussion

Abstract

Background Although the presence of starting materials in extreme dilutions of homeopathic medicines has been established, the physico-chemical changes of these materials induced by the manufacturing steps—that is, solid–solid mixing involving grinding (trituration) and slurry mixing involving impact (succussion), followed by dilution—are still unknown. Methods We subjected cupric oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs) to the homeopathic processes of trituration and succussion, followed by dilution up to 6 cH. Particle image velocimetry was employed to analyze the fluid motion during succussion and its effect on the NPs. The resulting microstructural and chemical changes at different dilution steps were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Results The succussion triggered multi-sized bubble generation and turbulent fluid motion up to a duration of 400 ms, with maximum average velocity of 0.23 m/s. Due to 1% transfer of kinetic energy from a moving eddy with this velocity, upon collision, the rate of temperature change in a particle of size 1 µm and 1 nm was predicted to rise by approximately 102 K/s and 106 K/s respectively. During trituration, the oxide NPs reduced to metals and did not aggregate by remaining within lactose, but they converted to oxidized finer NPs after impact. Silicate chains leached from the vial cross-linked after third dilution, forming large macro-particles and encapsulating the NPs that were retained and carried at higher dilution steps. Conclusion The results showed that the NPs sustained significant rate of temperature change due to energy transfer from moving eddies during succussion. Different physico-chemical changes, such as size reduction, successive reduction and oxidation of NPs, and morphological changes, were achieved through trituration and succussion. The retention of NPs within cross-linked poly-siloxane chains reveals the importance of both the borosilicate glass vial and the ethanol solution during preparation of homeopathic medicines.

Experimental Evidence Supports New Perspectives in Homeopathy

“…A hypothesis about the role of succussion in the preparation of homeopathic medicines has recently been reported and discussed. 15 The role of hydroxosilicate oligomers is somewhat simpler. In the recent past, Bellare's research group has shown by means of electron diffraction (ED) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-and contrary to any previous belief-that when homeopathic medicines containing metal nanoparticles or metal salts are progressively diluted and succussed, their highly diluted solutions contain an unexpected amount of the original substance (some pg/mL).…”

“…4,[19][20][21] Conversely, if this phenomenon can be easily justified for natural organic products as a consequence of the balance between solute-solute and solute-solvent interactions, it is difficult to understand in the case of simple inorganic salts unless the donor power of the solvent (in Bellare's case, water/ethanol 90/95% mixtures) favors the formation of clusters of ionic counterparts. 15,18 The formation of nanoparticles is associated with a solvent clathrate and gas nanobubbles, 22,23 and the resulting system in a homeopathic remedy is stabilized by the poly(hydroxo)metasilicate oligomers, acting as nanoassociate coatings. Therefore, the role of succussion can be explained in terms of a process favoring the occurrence of a simple Lewis acid-base adduct formation involving these hydroxo-metasilicate species.…”

Exploration of Gold Colloidal beyond Trillion Times Dilution

“…The various literature of Homeopathy medicines suggest that colloidal solutions are more effective with higher potentization/dilution (composed of serial dilutions and vigorous triturations/successions beyond Avogadro no-10 23 ). Multiple studies about homeopathic potencies and nanoparticles (NPs) have been published [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] . The study published by Chikramane et al [6,8] , showing the presence of starting material in the form of nanoparticles, has been the most pivotal.…”

Exploration of Gold Colloidal beyond Trillion Times Dilution

“…The various literature of Homeopathy medicines suggest that colloidal solutions are more effective with higher potentization/dilution (composed of serial dilutions and vigorous triturations/successions beyond Avogadro no-10 23 ). Multiple studies about homeopathic potencies and nanoparticles (NPs) have been published [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] . The study published by Chikramane et al [6,8] , showing the presence of starting material in the form of nanoparticles, has been the most pivotal.…”

“…Following this study, multiple advancements have been made further to understand the complex interactions of homeopathic medicine. Basu et al [7] reported the physico-chemical changes in nanoparticles due to Homeopathic trituration and succussions. Wassenhoven et al [9] performed nanoparticle characterization of homeopathic medicines and showed the nanoparticle-induced hormetic activation [8] .…”