Research in Homeopathy, Mechanism of action

5. Mechanism of action

The homeopathic approach rests on a basic premise that an ill person can be treated with a medicine that could produce similar symptoms in a healthy person; the active ingredients are given in highly diluted form to avoid toxicity. Homeopathy has analogies with allergen desensitisation and immunotherapy, for example in the homeopathic approach to pollen therapy for hay fever.⁴⁷

The aspect of homeopathy that is implausible for many people is that its remedies are often diluted to the point where there may be no molecules of original substance left. The leading current proposal for the mode of action of such 'ultramolecular' dilutions is that water is capable of storing information relating to substances with which it has previously been in contact and subsequently transmits this information to pre-sensitised biosystems. The process is thought to be mediated by structural modifications of water, analogous to the storage of information by magnetic media. Such information is retained in physical, rather than chemical, form.⁶⁶

Recent research on hydrogen bonds in water provides some support for this 'memory' theory. The Swiss chemist, Louis Rey, found that the structure of hydrogen bonds in homeopathic dilutions of salt solutions is very different from that in pure water.⁶⁷ He reached the conclusion that the phenomenon results from the vigorous shaking of solutions that takes place during homeopathic 'succussion'.

An alternative mechanism is suggested by the results of research from South Korea. Studies on molecular clustering in water solutions showed that as a solution is made more and more dilute, very stable and larger aggregates develop in dilute solutions than in more concentrated solutions.⁶⁸ This means that residual molecular clusters of original substance might just be present in homeopathic dilutions. This work is notable since it was carried out by scientists who have no particular interest in homeopathy.

Whatever their mode of action, there is increasing evidence that homeopathic dilutions have a demonstrable effect on living organisms examined under laboratory conditions. Researchers in Germany have observed an inhibitory effect of ultra-diluted dichloro-phenol on the bacterium Vibrio fischeri.⁶⁹ And there is important work from a consortium of European laboratories showing that very high dilutions of histamine may exert a biologically significant effect on basophil cells.⁷⁰

		5. Mechanism of action
		The homeopathic approach rests on a basic premise that an ill person can be treated with a medicine that could produce similar symptoms in a healthy person; the active ingredients are given in highly diluted form to avoid toxicity. Homeopathy has analogies with allergen desensitisation and immunotherapy, for example in the homeopathic approach to pollen therapy for hay fever.⁴⁷ The aspect of homeopathy that is implausible for many people is that its remedies are often diluted to the point where there may be no molecules of original substance left. The leading current proposal for the mode of action of such 'ultramolecular' dilutions is that water is capable of storing information relating to substances with which it has previously been in contact and subsequently transmits this information to pre-sensitised biosystems. The process is thought to be mediated by structural modifications of water, analogous to the storage of information by magnetic media. Such information is retained in physical, rather than chemical, form.⁶⁶ Recent research on hydrogen bonds in water provides some support for this 'memory' theory. The Swiss chemist, Louis Rey, found that the structure of hydrogen bonds in homeopathic dilutions of salt solutions is very different from that in pure water.⁶⁷ He reached the conclusion that the phenomenon results from the vigorous shaking of solutions that takes place during homeopathic 'succussion'. An alternative mechanism is suggested by the results of research from South Korea. Studies on molecular clustering in water solutions showed that as a solution is made more and more dilute, very stable and larger aggregates develop in dilute solutions than in more concentrated solutions.⁶⁸ This means that residual molecular clusters of original substance might just be present in homeopathic dilutions. This work is notable since it was carried out by scientists who have no particular interest in homeopathy. Whatever their mode of action, there is increasing evidence that homeopathic dilutions have a demonstrable effect on living organisms examined under laboratory conditions. Researchers in Germany have observed an inhibitory effect of ultra-diluted dichloro-phenol on the bacterium Vibrio fischeri.⁶⁹ And there is important work from a consortium of European laboratories showing that very high dilutions of histamine may exert a biologically significant effect on basophil cells.⁷⁰		Table of contents Homeopathy: the great debate Clinical research in homeopathy Veterinary homeopathy Issues and controversies Mechanism of action Is homeopathy safe? Is homeopathy cost effective? BHA/Faculty’s research strategy References Research discussion forum C O N T A C T U S S I T E M A P H O M E
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