Extreme homeopathic dilutions retain starting materials: A nanoparticulate perspective

Homeopathy is controversial because medicines in high potencies such as 30c and 200c involve huge dilution factors (10⁶⁰ and 10⁴⁰⁰ respectively) which are many orders of magnitude greater than Avogadro’s number, so that theoretically there should be no measurable remnants of the starting materials. No hypothesis which predicts the retention of properties of starting materials has been proposed nor has any physical entity been shown to exist in these high potency medicines. Using market samples of metal-derived medicines from reputable manufacturers, we have demonstrated for the first time by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction and chemical analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), the presence of physical entities in these extreme dilutions, in the form of nanoparticles of the starting metals and their aggregates.

Keywords

Homeopathy - Nanoparticles - Nanocrystalline materials - Transmission Electron Microscopy

• References

• 1 Khuda-Bukhsh A.R. Laboratory research in homeopathy: Pro. Integr Cancer Ther 2006; 5: 320-332.
• 2 Khuda-Bukhsh A.R. Towards understanding molecular mechanisms of action of homeopathic drugs: an overview. Mol Cell Biochem 2003; 253: 339-345.
• 3 Davenas E., Beauvais F., Amara J. et al. Human basophil degranulation triggered by very dilute antiserum against IgE. Nature 1988; 333: 816-818.
• 4 Chaplin M.F. The memory of water: an overview. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 143-150.
• 5 Teixeira J. Can water possibly have a memory? A skeptical view. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 158-162.
• 6 Anagnostatos G.S. Small water clusters (clathrates) in the homoeopathic preparation process. In: Endler P.C., Schulte J. Ultra High Dilution – Physiology and Physics. 1994. Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers; 121-128.
• 7 Rao M.L., Roy R., Bell I.R., Hoover R. The defining role of structure (including epitaxy) in the plausibility of homeopathy. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 175-182.
• 8 Walach H., Jonas W.B., Ives J., van Wijk R., Weingärtner O. Research on homeopathy: state of the art. J Altern Complement Med 2005; 11: 813-829.
• 9 Davydov A.S. Energy and electron transport in biological systems. In: Ho M.W., Popp F.A., Warnke U. Bioelectrodynamics and Biocommunication. 1994. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.; Chap 17, pp 411–430.
• 10 Anick D.J., Ives J.A. The silica hypothesis for homeopathy: physical chemistry. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 189-195.
• 11 Doktycz S.J., Suslick K.S. Interparticle collisions driven by ultrasound. Science 1990; 247: 1067-1069.
• 12 Suslick K.S., Doktycz S.J. The sonochemistry of Zn powder. J Am Chem Soc 1989; 111: 2342-2344.
• 13 Suslick K.S., Price G.J. Applications of ultrasound to materials chemistry. Annu Rev Mater Sci 1999; 29: 295-326.
• 14 Suslick K.S. The chemical effects of ultrasound. Sci Am 1989 (Feb); 80-86.
• 15 Goldstein A.N., Echer C.M., Alivisatos A.P. Melting in semiconductor nanocrystals. Science 1992; 256: 1425-1427.
• 16 Edington J.W. Philips technical library – monographs in practical electron microscopy in materials science 2 – electron diffraction in the electron microscope . Eindhoven: N.V. Philips’; 1975. p 110.
• 17 Varma P.N., Vaid I. Encyclopedia of homoeopathic pharmacopoeia & drug index . New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers; 2007. pp 2722–2745.
• 18 Röder E., Pütz W., Frisse R. Bestimmung von Au, Fe, Zn und Hg in homöopathischen Dilutionen durch zerstörungsfreie Neutronenaktivierungsanalyse. Fresenius Z Anal Chem 1981; 307: 120-126.
• 19 Roy R., Tiller W.A., Bell I., Hoover M.R. The structure of liquid water: novel insights from materials research; potential relevance to homeopathy. Mater Res Innov 2005; 9: 577-608.
• 20 Pickering S.U. Emulsions. J Chem Soc 1907; 91: 2001-2021.
• 21 Binks B.P. Particles as surfactants – similarities and differences. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2002; 7: 21-41.
• 22 Binks B.P., Lumsdon S.O. Influence of particle wettability on the type and stability of surfactant-free emulsions. Langmuir 2000; 16: 8622-8631.