Immunology and Homeopathy. 2. Cells of the Immune System and Inflammation

Abstract

Here we describe the results of some experimental laboratory studies aimed at verifying the efficacy of high dilutions of substances and of homeopathic medicines in models of inflammation and immunity. Studies carried out on basophils, lymphocytes, granulocytes and fibroblasts are reviewed. This approach may help to test under controlled conditions the main principles of homeopathy such as ‘similarity’ of drug action at the cellular level and the effects of dilution/dynamization on the drug activity. The current situation is that few and rather small groups are working on laboratory models for homeopathy. Regarding the interpretation of data in view of the simile principle, we observe that there are different levels of similarity and that the laboratory data give support to this principle, but have not yet yielded the ultimate answer to the action mechanism of homeopathy. Evidence of the biological activity in vitro of highly diluted-dynamized solutions is slowly accumulating, with some conflicting reports. It is our hope that this review of literature unknown to most people will give an original and useful insight into the ‘state-of-the-art’ of homeopathy, without final conclusions ‘for’ or ‘against’ this modality. This kind of uncertainty may be difficult to accept, but is conceivably the most open-minded position now.

Immunology and Homeopathy. 4. Clinical Studies—Part 2

“…The use of homeopathy in those conditions is indirectly supported also by evidence in basic science, animal studies or theory [(89,90) and P. Bellavite, R. Ortolani, F. Pontarollo, G. Pitari, A. Conforti, unpublished data]. In grade C (unclear or conflicting evidence) there are many studies, because positive results reported by some authors were not replicated by others.…”

Induction of Apoptosis of Tumor Cells by Some Potentiated Homeopathic Drugs

“…The role of immunity in the therapeutic efficacy of homeopathic medicines has been reviewed by Bellavite et al 37,38 Gene expression profiling of macrophages with a combinatorial homeopathic drug, canova, has been reported to modulate more than 100 genes involved in transcription/translation, cell structure, immune response, and so on. 39 Likewise, these data indicate that one of the mechanisms of dynamized preparations may be through exerting cytotoxic action by modulating the gene expression of many genes involved in the process of apoptosis.…”

Assays of homeopathic remedies in rodent behavioural and psychopathological models

“…Thus, our results, obtained in fully randomized, controlled and blind conditions, confirm and reinforce the observations -emerging from several research fields -that biologically active compounds may indeed have high-dilution effects which mimics those of lower dilutions (higher doses): in homeopathy there does not exist linearity or proportionality between molecular concentration of active principles and biological effect. 39,41,[67][68][69][70][71] So far there is no uniting theoretical explanation for these observations, but recent hypotheses seem to point to organisation of the solvent water on a mesoscopic scale: the nano-heterogenous structure of water can be determined by interactive phenomena such as coherence, epitaxy, temperature-pressure processes during strong agitation, and formation of colloidal nanobubbles containing gaseous inclusions of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon Assays of homeopathic remedies in rodents P Bellavite et al dioxide, silica, and possibly the remedy source material. [72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79] We have also previously suggested a analogy between this type of non-linearity and a hypothetical fractal-type organisation of water nanoheterogeneities, [80][81][82] due to the iterative process of dilution/succussion.…”

“…Solid statistical evidence demonstrates that the effects of the different potency levels investigated (5CH, 7CH, 30CH) do not follow a classical dose-response relationship regarding their mere dilution level, confirming a phenomenon frequently observed with high homeopathic dilutions in other laboratory models. [66][67][68][69][70] Gelsemium's mechanism of action at the central level is also starting to be elucidated. It is therefore one of the first remedies, already empirically used in human patients with symptoms correlated to anxiety, to have been proven effective in experimental animals.…”