Homeopathy Seen as Personalised Nanomedicine

Abstract

Among all the discoveries of Hahnemann, potentisation was the most important, though controversial. The curative effect of individualised homeopathic potencies is empirical but inexplicable by the conventional principles of science. This paradox is a highly contentious topic of debate between rationalists and homeopaths. Recent discoveries relating to the nano-particulate nature of homeopathic ultra-high potencies and their potential effect on individual gene expression give new insights into this complex issue. It is concluded that homeopathy may be viewed as ‘personalised nanomedicine’.

Keywords

homeopathy - nanoparticles - potentisation - genetics - personalised nanomedicine

• References

• 1 Dudgeon RE. The Lesser Writings of Samuel Hahnemann. Indian edition. New Delhi: B Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd; 1995. -303 -307
• 2 Hahel R. Samuel Hahnemann: His Life and Work. Reprint edition, Vol I, New Delhi: B Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd; 1992: 310-318
• 3 Goel S. Art and Science of Homeopathic Pharmacy. 2nd ed. Mumbai: Mind Technologies; 2007: 346-361
• 4 Hahnemann S. Organon of Medicine. 6th ed. New Delhi: B Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd; 1993: 270-276
• 5 Chikramane PS, Suresh AK, Bellare JR, Kane SG. Extreme homeopathic dilutions retain starting materials: a nanoparticulate perspective. Homeopathy 2010; 99: 231-242
• 6 Bell IR, Muralidharan S, Schwartz GE. Nanoparticle characterization of traditional homeopathically - manufactured Gelsemium sempervirens medicines and placebo controls. J Nanomedine Biotherapeutic Discov 2015; 5: 136
• 7 Bell IR, Muralidharan S, Schwartz GE. Nanoparticle characterization of traditional homeopathically–manufactured Silver (Argentum metallicum) medicines and placebo controls. J Nanomed Nanotechnol 2015; 6: 311
• 8 Bell IR, Schwartz GE. Enhancement of adaptive biological effects by nanotechnology preparation methods in homeopathic medicines. Homeopathy 2015; 104: 123-138
• 9 Upadhyay RP, Nayak C. Homeopathy emerging as nanomedicine. Int J High Dilution Res 2011; 10: 299-310
• 10 Konovalov AI, Ryzhkina IS. Highly diluted aqueous solutions: formation of nano–sized molecular assemblies (nanoassociates). Geochem Int 2014; 52: 1207-1226
• 11 Nandy P. A review of basic research on homeopathy from a physicist's point of view. Indian J Res Homeopathy 2015; 9: 141-151
• 12 Kar S, Bandopadhyay P, Chakraborty S. , et al. Derivation of an empirical relation between the size of the nanoparticle and the potency of homeopathic medicines. Int J High Dilution Res 2015; 14: 2-7
• 13 Demangeat JL. Gas nanobubbles and aqueous nanostructures: the crucial role of dynamization. Homeopathy 2015; 104: 101-115
• 14 Elia V, Ausanio G, Gentile F, Germano R, Napoli E, Niccoli M. Experimental evidence of stable water nanostructures in extremely dilute solutions, at standard pressure and temperature. Homeopathy 2014; 103: 44-50
• 15 Rajendran ES. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) studies of centesimal scale potencies of the homeopathic drug Lycopodium clavatum. Am J Homeopath Med 2015; 108: 9-18
• 16 Rajendran ES. An evaluation of Avogadro's number in the light of HRTEM and EDS studies of high dilutions of Ferrum metallicum 6, 30, 200, 1M, 10M and 50Mc. Int J High Dilution Res 2015; 14: 3-9
• 17 Rajendran ES. Nano pharmacological aspect of homeopathic drugs – A comparative study of different scales of ultra-high dilutions based on HRTEM Analysis and NP characterization of homeopathic drug Natrum muriaticum 6C−CM and LM1−LM30. Saudi J Med Pharm Sci 2017; 3: 89-106
• 18 Rajendran ES. Homeopathy a material science! Nanoparticle characterization of Aurum metallicum 6c, 30c, 200c, 1000c, 10000c, 50000c and 100000c. Int J Curr Res 2017; 9: 48923-48927
• 19 Rajendran ES. Homeopathy a nanomedicine – identification and characterization of NPs in Hypericum perforatum 6C, 30C, 200C, 1M, 10M, 50M and CM. Int J Dev Res 2017; 7: 12425-12431
• 20 Rajendran ES. Nanodynamics – Nanoscience, Homeopathy, Physical sciences, Nanomedicine. 1st ed. Cochin: Mohna Publications; 2015: 43-246
• 21 Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Potentized homeopathic drugs act through regulation of gene expression: a hypothesis to explain their mechanism and pathways of action in vitro. Complement Ther Med 1997; 5: 43-46
• 22 Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Bhattacharya SS, Paul S. PLGA Nanoparticle encapsulated plant extract (Gelsemium sempervirens) enhances cellular uptake and increases bioactivity: novel findings from an in vitro study. Tsitol Genet 2009; 14: 15-18
• 23 Samadder A, Das S, Das J, Paul A, Boujedaini N, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. The potentized homeopathic drug, Lycopodium clavatum (5C and 15C) has anti-cancer effect on HeLa cells in vitro. J Acupunct Meridian Stud 2013; 6: 180-187
• 24 Mondal J, Panigrahi AK, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Anticancer potential of Conium maculatum extract against cancer cells in vitro: drug-DNA interaction and its ability to induce apoptosis through ROS generation. Pharmacogn Mag 2014; 10 (Suppl. 03) S524-S533
• 25 Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Current trends in high dilution research with particular reference to gene regulatory hypothesis. Nucleus 2014; 57: 3-17
• 26 Samadder A, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Nanotechnological approaches in diabetes treatment: A new horizon. World J Transl Med 2014; 3: 84-95
• 27 Saha SK, Roy S, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Ultra-highly diluted plant extracts of Hydrastis canadensis and Marsdenia condurango induce epigenetic modifications and alter gene expression profiles in HeLa cells in vitro. J Integr Med 2015; 13: 400-411
• 28 Mandal SK, Biswas R, Bhattacharyya SS. , et al. Lycopodine from Lycopodium clavatum extract inhibits proliferation of HeLa cells through induction of apoptosis via caspase-3 activation. Eur J Pharmacol 2010; 626: 115-122
• 29 Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Towards understanding molecular mechanisms of action of homeopathic drugs: an overview. Mol Cell Biochem 2003; 253: 339-345
• 30 Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Karmakar SR, Banerjee A. , et al. A follow-up study on the efficacy of the homeopathic remedy Arsenicum album in volunteers living in high risk Arsenic contaminated areas. Indian J Res Homeopathy 2009; 3: 43-51
• 31 Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Sikdar S. Condurango 30C induces epigenetic modification of lung cancer – specific tumour suppressor genes via demethylation. Forsch Komplement Med 2015; 22: 172-179
• 32 Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Bhattacharyya SS, Paul S, Dutta S, Boujedaini N, Belon P. Modulation of signal proteins: a plausible mechanism to explain how a potentized drug Secale cor 30C diluted beyond Avogadro's limit combats skin papilloma in mice. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2011; 2011: 286320
• 33 Das D, De A, Dutta S, Biswas R, Boujedaini N, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Potentized homeopathic drug Arsenicum Album 30C positively modulates protein biomarkers and gene expressions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae exposed to arsenate. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao 2011; 9: 752-760
• 34 Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Chakrabarti J. Effects of sonication on chromosomes of mice, Mus musculus, and modifying effects of a homeopathic drug, Arnica Montana on them. Tsitol Genet 1998; 9: 333-340
• 35 Khuda-Bukhsh AR. An evidence-based evaluation of efficacy of homeopathic drugs in mice during induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Tsitol Genet 2007; 13: 177-185
• 36 Khuda-Bukhsh AR, De A, Das D, Dutta S, Boujedaini N. Analysis of the capability of ultra-highly diluted glucose to increase glucose uptake in arsenite-stressed bacteria Escherichia coli. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao 2011; 9: 901-912
• 37 Marzotto M, Olioso D, Brizzi M, Tononi P, Cristofoletti M, Bellavite P. Extreme sensitivity of gene expression in human SH-SY5Y neurocytes to ultra-low doses of Gelsemium sempervirens. BMC Complement Altern Med 2014; 14: 104-124
• 38 Sunila ES, Kuttan R, Preethi KC, Kuttan G. Dynamized preparations in cell culture. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2009; 6: 257-263
• 39 Preethi K, Ellanghiyil S, Kuttan G, Kuttan R. Induction of apoptosis of tumor cells by some potentiated homeopathic drugs: implications on mechanism of action. Integr Cancer Ther 2012; 11: 172-182
• 40 Mukherjee A, Sikdar S, Bishayee K, Boujedaini N, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Flavonol isolated from ethanolic leaf extract of Thuja occidentalis arrests the cell cycle at G2-M and induces ROS-independent apoptosis in A549 cells, targeting nuclear DNA. Cell Prolif 2014; 47: 56-71
• 41 Bishayee K, Chakraborty D, Gosh D, Boujedaini N, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Lycopodine triggers apoptosis by modulation 5-lipoxygenase, and depolarizing mitochondrial membrane potential in androgen sensitive and refractory prostate cancer cells without modulating p53 activity; signaling cascade and drug-DNA interaction. Eur J Pharmacol 2013; 698: 110-121
• 42 Bishayee K, Paul A, Ghosh S. , et al. Condurango-glycoside-A fraction of Gonolobus condurango induces DNA damage associated senescence and apoptosis via ROS-dependent p53 signalling pathway in HeLa cells. Mol Cell Biochem 2013; 382: 173-183
• 43 Friso S, Choi SW, Girelli D. , et al. A common mutation in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene affects genomic DNA methylation through an interaction with folate status. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002; 99: 5606-5611
• 44 Baylin SB, Herman JG, Graff JR, Vertino PM, Issa JP. Alterations in DNA methylation: a fundamental aspect of neoplasia. Adv Cancer Res 1998; 72: 141-196
• 45 Olsen S. Effects of ultra-high dilutions of sodium butyrate on viability and gene expression in HEK 293 cells. Homeopathy 2017; 106: 32-36
• 46 Kay PH, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. The contribution of homeogenomic and homeogenetic studies in the support of the practice of homeopathy. Indian J Res Homeopathy 2016; 10: 101-107
• 47 Kay P, Rashid S. The development of new sequence specific homeopathic DNA remedies for health promotion and disease protection. Positive Health Online 2015; 220: 1-9
• 48 Baldwin GS, Brooks NJ, Robson RE. , et al. DNA double helices recognize mutual sequence homology in a protein free environment. J Phys Chem B 2008; 112: 1060-1064
• 49 Davenas E, Beauvais F, Amara J. , et al. Human basophil degranulation triggered by very dilute antiserum against IgE. Nature 1988; 333: 816-818
• 50 Chaplin MF. The memory of water: an overview. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 143-150
• 51 Teixeira J. Can water possibly have a memory? A sceptical view. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 158-162
• 52 Anagnostatos GS. Small water clusters (clathrates) in homeopathic preparation process. In: Endler PC, Schulte J. , eds. Ultra High Dilution–Physiology and Physics. Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers; 1994: 121-128
• 53 Rao ML, Roy R, Bell IR, Hoover R. The defining role of structure (including epitaxy) in the plausibility of homeopathy. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 175-182
• 54 Walach H, Jonas WB, Ives J, van Wijk R, Weingärtner O. Research on homeopathy: state of the art. J Altern Complement Med 2005; 11: 813-829
• 55 Davydov AS. Energy and electron transport in biological systems. In: Ho MW, Popp FA, Warnke U. , eds. Bioelectrodynamic and Biocommunication. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co Pvt. Ltd; 1994: 411-420 , Chap 17
• 56 Anick DJ, Ives JA. The silica hypothesis for homeopathy: physical chemistry. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 189-195
• 57 Chikramane PS, Kalita D, Suresh AK, Kane SG, Bellare JR. Why extreme dilutions reach non-zero asymptotes: a nanoparticulate hypothesis based on froth flotation. Langmuir 2012; 28: 15864-15875
• 58 Trnecková L, Rotllant D, Klenerová V, Hynie S, Armario A. Dynamics of immediate early gene and neuropeptide gene response to prolonged immobilization stress: evidence against a critical role of the termination of exposure to the stressor. J Neurochem 2007; 100: 905-914
• 59 Sheng M, Greenberg ME. The regulation and function of c-fos and other immediate early genes in the nervous system. Neuron 1990; 4: 477-485
• 60 Alivisatos AP. Semiconductor clusters, Nanocrystals, and Quantum Dots. Science 1996; 271: 933-937
• 61 Verma A, Stellacci F. Effect of surface properties on nanoparticle – cell interactions. Small 2010; 6: 12-21
• 62 Biener J, Wittstock A, Baumann TF, Weissmüller J, Baumer M, Hamza AV. Surface chemistry in nanoscale materials. Materials (Basel) 2009; 2: 2404-2428
• 63 Calabrese EJ, Baldwin LA. Hormesis: the dose-response revolution. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2003; 43: 175-197
• 64 Davies H, Bignell GR, Cox C. , et al. Mutations of the BRAF gene in human cancer. Nature 2002; 417: 949-954
• 65 Ranganathan R, Madanmohan S, Kesavan A. , et al. Nanomedicine: towards development of patient-friendly drug-delivery systems for oncological applications. Int J Nanomedicine 2012; 7: 1043-1060