CONTINUING HOMŒOPATHIC MEDICAL EDUCATION SERVICES

QUARTERLY HOMŒOPATHIC DIGEST

VOL. XXXIII, 1 – 4, 2016

Part I Current Literature Listing

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Part I of the journal lists the current literature in Homœopathy drawn from the well-known

homœopathic journals published world-over - India, England, Germany, France, Brazil, USA, etc.,

- discipline-wise, with brief abstracts/extracts. Readers may refer to the original articles for detailed

study. The full names and addresses of the journals covered by this compilation are given at the

end of Part I. Part II contains selected essays/articles/extracts, while Part III carries original articles

for this journal, Book Reviews, etc.

______________________________________________________________________________

I. PHILOSOPHY

1. Case Totality, Idiosyncrasy and Vitalism

MORRELL, Peter (AH. 21/2015)

The learned author is well-known. He says

“The best fit remedy always matches not just the

broad symptoms but also the rare and peculiar

idiosyncrasies of the patient.” [I agree of course.

The remedy is to be selected on the rare and peculiar

idiosyncrasies, that is the teaching of the Organon.

Please read the full article in Part II of this QHD. =

KSS].

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II. MATERIA MEDICA

1. Fallbericht trigeminus-neuralgie: Spigelia

(Case Report Trigeminus neuralgia: Spigelia)

GYPSER, K.-H. (ZKH. 58, 1/2014)

A Prosopalgia of nearly 30 years standing yields

to a prescription of Spigelia. The selection of the

remedy is well supported with the aid of Materia

Medica Revisa Homœopathiae.

2. Staphisagria und Sepia bei Burn-out Syndrome

(Staphisagria and Sepia in Burn-out Syndrome)

GNAIGER-RATHMANNER, Jutta

(ZKH. 58, 1/2014)

A lady 43 years, 1 child. Weeps sighs; feels

over- whelmed by work and scorned, her divorce

still pains her, conformity was always the highest

commandment. All these led to a ‘burn-out’ she now

experiences. Staphisagria, helped quickly. Later on

new symptoms refer to Sepia.

3. Vergleichende Materia Medica: Hyoscyamus

und Stramonium

(Comparative Materia Medica: Hyoscyamus

and Stramonium)

MINDER, Peter (ZKH. 58, 1/2014)

The reliability of comparative study of remedies

with the aid of the MMRH monographs is

demonstrated. The comparison of the two

Solanaceae Hyoscyamus and Stramonium shows that

known aspects can be recognized but also, that well

assumed aspects cannot always be confirmed;

instead, new aspects can be found to encourage

verification.

4. Die Schwierigkeit mit Bacillinum

(The difficulty with Bacillinum)

ZAUNER, Bernhard (ZKH. 58, 3/2014)

There are many Tuberculin preparations:

Bacillinum Burnett, Tuberculinum Koch,

Tuberculinum bovinum, Tuberculinum Denys,

Tuberculinum marmorak, Tuberculinum aviare and

Bacillinum.

The author details with a practical case, how

Bacillinum can be distinguished. Bacillinum is

preparted from maceration of a tuberculus lung

tissue.

Boy, born 2003: First Anamnesis 2009. Reason

for consultation:a massive allergic reaction.

A paediatrician has diagnosed as early Asthma.

The ailments were worsening each year. He is

already on Inhaler. The complaints begin an hour or

two hours of sleep, he is awakened by attacks of

cough. After taking the whole case, the rubrics

selected were:Cough, lying agg. night agg.

Mind, Sympathetic, Compassionate

Head, Perspiration, scalp

Perspiration; exertion agg., during at night

Generalities: Food and drinks, Vinegar, desire.

Bacillinum 200c.

With a repetition after sometime, the patient

remained well.

5. Materia Medica Revision: Alumina

NICKLAS, Jürgen (ZKH. 58, 4/2014)

The Project Materia Medica Revisa

Homӧopathiae (MMRH) has the aim to collect all

published symptoms of single remedies from

available primary sources. In this article the results

of the revision of Alumina are given showing also

less known but characteristic symptoms of Alumina.

The revision of the Materia Medica allows

reproducible statements about the action of a

remedy. This will help improve homœopathic

prescriptions well, reliable.

A picture of Alumina has been built from the

reliable, verifiable in practice, symptoms in the

Alumina Monograph of the MMRH.

6. Hekla tephra und Hekla lava

PӦTTERS Hedwig (ZKH. 58, 4/2014)

Hecla tephra is the fine ash from the Volcano

whereas Hecla lava is the hot, Liquid magma. For

therapeutic purposes we should use Hecla tephra

which contains Fluoride.

7. The Spirit of Fidelity: A Proving of White-tailed

Deer (odocoileus virginianus borealis sanguis)

HUENECKE, Jason-Aeric (AH. 21/2015)

This Proving was carried out for the

Northwestern Academy of Homœopathy in Winter

2014. The proving Remedy was prepared by Helios

Homœopathy, London.

Blood from the animal was collected and was

run up to 3c. This was used for ‘Proving’. The

article runs to 19 pages out of which 9 are suggested

rubrics “not in the Synthesis but recommended”.

[Already the Synthesis is to me at least an Amazon

forest, still I do not know where to look for in it; now

one more in that, there are several ‘themes’, etc.

Why no ‘reproving’ of our old remedies like Bryonia

or Cina or Calcarea etc. are not thought of for

confirmation of some symptoms not yet confirmed?

That would be of practical use rather than add to the

thousands already there, many of them not used even

once in the years. = KSS].

8. Lining in a Crustacean World

DRURY, Susan (AH. 21/2015)

Crustaceans releases thousands of eggs carried

under the tail, they hatch into larvae floating in the

vast expanse water. They are attractive food to just

every living creature in the ocean including their

own cannibalistic mother, siblings and ultimately as

far as one percent survive to mature. They moth

annually.

The author narrates a case to point out as

‘signature’ of the Crustacae in a female in her mid

40s. the remedy Astacus 200 was given.

Differentiation between Astacus and Homarus

is given; ref. Sea Remedies by Jo EVANS and

Massimo MANGIALAVORI case/Seminar Notes.

9. Die Symptomenverzeichnisse der 2. Auflage

der Chronischen Krankheiten

(The Symptoms list in 2nd edition of the Chronic

Diseases)

KRITZENBERGER, Irmgard (ZKH. 59,

1/2015)

This is a detailed and in-depth scholarly study

of the Symptoms in the Second Edition (which is the

edition in use) of the Chronic Diseases vis-à-vis the

symptoms as given in the ‘sources’ (JAHR, STOPF,

GROSS, CASPARI, GERSDORF, etc.) the

wordings, the structure of symptoms, etc.

Earlier Dr. C. LUCAE has opened this subject

with his presentation of a paper in the ICE, followed

by some more papers published in the ZKH during

the years 2007 - 2012.

The conclusion of the author is that while

drawing the symptoms from their sources for his

Materia Medica of Chronic Diseases

HAHNEMANN has chosen to use words and

construction of sentences different from the source

versions and to that extent it has to be examined as

to why Hahnemann chose to do so, evidently in the

light of his experience. These changes cannot yet be

viewed as arbitrary and hence in need of correction,

as they are based on a systematic arrangement

following distinct principles. These principles can

be found both in distinct patterns of the changes and

in comments by Hahnemann. As the rearrangement

of the tools and then process, the revision of

Hahnemann’s latest Materia medica should restrict

itself to the identification of doubtless mistakes.

Individual ideas to set standards should be resisted.

There is need to define criteria for the evaluation of

the contents of the primary Materia Medica.

A very well researched article.

10. MMPP – Eine mühsame, aber mehr als

lohnende Tätigkeit – am Beispiel von Sanicula

aqua

(Materia Medica Pura Project – a tiresome but

rewarding occupation – with the example of

Sanicula aqua)

BREIG, Clemens (ZKH. 59, 1/2015)

There are two or three different groups of

Homœopaths who have undertaken the long and

laborious task of creating a reliable Pure Materia

Medica recalling to the sources. The work may take

several years. In this article the author refers to the

work of André Saine. As part of this project the

author created a Monograph about Sanicula aqua. In

the first part of the article the author demonstrates

with the remedy Sanicula aqua to singular aspects of

the MMPP like searching for the Provings and cases,

developing a genius and making additions to the

Repertory. In the second part of the article a case

demonstration shows important characteristics of the

remedy.

11. The Glees Academy of Homœopathic

Physicians and the Revision of a Homœopathic

Materia Medica (MMRH)

GOLDMAN, Robert (AJHM. 108, 2/2015)

About 12 years ago the Glees Academy of

Homœopathic Physicians, with Dr. Klaus-Henning

GYPSER, MD as its Founder and Director has set to

bring out most reliable Homœopathic Materia

Medica by referring to the sources and then weed out

the doubtful entries and keep the reliable. This is a

daunting work which requires a large team of

dedicated Homœopathy scholars, much patience and

many, many hours of work. Lot of ‘ground work’

precedes which meant collection of the source

material, sifting them, cataloguing them so as to

have ready access.

It goes to the credit of the team and its head that

such work undertaken with the aim of serving

mankind, thereby Homœopathy and not for any

personal gains would draw like-minded and see the

task through.

Ten years have passed since the inception of this

work, so far about 60 remedies have been made

available: work is going on. It is for the homœopaths

that more dedicated among them offer their labour

and become blessed up Samuel Hahnemann.

The Glees Academy is also a ‘Learning Center’.

it has probably the largest Homœopathic Library,

most rare.

The homœopathic community is greatful to Dr.

Gypser and his team for this great and grand work.

The best way that we can express our gratitude is

using this revised and reliable work in our day to day

practice.

12. Introduction to the Materia Medica Pura Project

FIOR, Tim (AJHM. 108, 2/2015)

This is another Materia Medica Project by

Andre SAINE.

Over the past 125 years much clinical

information has been reported in the journals. An

internationals team of homœopaths from Europe

have joined together and collected these material and

indexed them. The purpose of this indexing is partly

to find interesting articles, but the most important

aim is to sort out Provings, toxicological reports, and

cases and clinical experiences from reliable sources.

A monograph is prepared, detailing the substance

used to make that remedy, its history, any anecdotes.

The symptoms are analysed to make repertory

additions. So far, tens of thousands of reliable

addition to the Repertory for just one hundred

remedies.

A position of the remedy Asafoetida is featured

in this issue of AJHM. (Given in Part II of this

QHD].

13. A Modern-day Mad Hatter

DUNN, Dale and FIRO, Timothy

(AJHM. 107, 1/2014)

Mercury is ubiquitous in our environment. This

has produced a disease of modernity which is a result

of the gradual bioaccumulation of mercury from

dental amalgams, vaccines and other medicines,

cosmetics, foods, industrial and natural sources.

Chronic mercury exposure can produce significant

multi-system morbidity in susceptible humans,

though diagnosis of chronic mercury intoxication

remains controversial. The case that follows depicts

that of a “modern-day mad hatter” who, despite the

use of well-indicated homœopathic medicines and

careful attention to homœopathic case management,

failed to progress to cure. The eventual diagnosis of

chronic mercury toxicity and subsequent oral

Chelation Therapy helped to significantly improve

some chronic neurologic symptoms which were

only temporarily palliated by a series of well chosen

homœopathic remedies. Homœopaths are reminded

that any/all exciting and maintaining cause(s) of

disease are impediments that must be accurately

ascertained and removed before homœopathic cure

is possible. [Here, at home on Kodaikanal near

Madurai there is problem with the Mercury that has

been left after the Thermometer manufacturing

foreign company folded up some years ago. We do

not know what is being done to remove the Mercury

from the environment. Certainly the risk is lurking.

= KSS].

14. A Great Sciatica Remedy

Mac ADAM E. Wallace (AJHM. 107, 1/2014)

Gnaphalium polycephalum, the common ‘Life

everlasting’, has been of value in many cases of

Sciatica, but the modalities as given in our textbooks

are open to criticism and may safely be ignored.

These modalities are:

Aggravation from lying down and stepping;

Amelioration from sitting on a chair.

15. The Facts About Variolinum

EATON, Charles Woodhull

(AJHM. 107, 2/2014)

The basis, use, and efficacy, of Variolinum in

preventing Smallpox during an era of Smallpox

epidemics in America is described, with cases and

statistics from lowa. Reports of inadvertent proving

symptoms are given. In the closing Discussion, Dr.

KORNDOERFER describes the work of his teacher

Constantin HERING when an incidental laboratory

finding preceded a case of Smallpox.

(This article originally appeared in Transactions

of the AIH 63rd Annual Session Norfolk, Va., June

17-22, 1907).

16. Carbo vegetabilis

SHEVIN, William (AJHM. 107, 1/2014)

Three cases of clinical presentations that have

not yet reached the well-known state of profound

weakness, respiratory distress, and collapse of

Carbo vegetabilis are presented.

[Dr.SHEVIN writes on Rajan Sankaran’s

‘Schema for Plant families’, compensation and

decompensation; etc. All these are

incomprehensible to me – I have found in my nearly

60 years of homœopathic practice, the teachings of

the past Masters are sufficient. The new

‘Innovators’ – Rajan Sankaran’s ideas, Sehgal’s

‘Mind’ only method, Banerjee’s protocols,

Vijaykar’s ‘Predictive’ and some other which will

come up in future are beyond me; I do not doubt that

all these are different methodologies and give

‘satisfactory’ results. Generally all of us present our

succeeses, but do not present failures. When there is

failure, you turn to a new methodology and find the

new gives successful results. But sometime later you

experience failure and you will turn to another ‘new’

method. That is what is happening. From what I

have read Homœopathy in the days of LIPPE,

GUERNSEY, WELLS, etc. was giving better results

and it is because of that Homœopathy survived.

Anyway the article by Dr. SHEVIN is certainly

interesting and worth reading. = KSS]

17. Homarus gammarus – Eine Kasuistic

(Homarus gammarus – A case)

KOLLER-WILMKING, Anna

(AHZ. 253, 2/2008)

Homarus gammarus was proved in 1888 by

CUSHING but has rarely been used. However, this

Sea remedy has been brought to light by Massimo

MANGIALAVORI. Allergy to milk and need for

super human protection are mentioned as

characteristic of this remedy.

A infant 4 months, girl, was suffering from

colic without clear modalities. The mother feeds,

she throws out mother’s milk.

Calcarea carbonica 200 and then M after long

interval. Inspite of this she developed cough, crying

at nights. Grandfather suffered Tuberculosis and

father Asthma and chronic Pneumonia.

Tuberculinum M and then XM. She improved, but

then no further. The mother said that the child had

colic from milk which she loved. Homarus

gammarus 200. Cured.

In brief Homarus gammarus = Calcarea

carbonica + need for great human protection and

allergy to milk.

Homarus gammarus – Reference Work by

von Massimo MANGIALAVORI:

 MIND, ANXIETY, money matters, about,

 MIND, DELUSIONS, imaginations, shadow,

he is protected by a,

 MIND, HORRIBLE things, sad stories affect

her profoundly,

 MIND, TIMIDITY,

 HEAD PAIN, GENERAL, milk, after drinking,

 RECTUM, CONSTIPATION, milk, after,

 EXTERNAL THROAT, SWELLING, cervical

glands,

 SKIN, ERUPTIONS, eczema, chronic,

 SKIN, ERUPTIONS, urticaria, fish agg., shell-

fish,

 GENERALITIES, CLOTHING, tight, as if too,

 GENERALITIES, FOOD and drinks, milk, agg.

 GENERALITIES, FOOD and drinks, milk,

desires,

 GENERALITIES, FOOD and drinks, shell-fish

agg.

 GENERALITIES, FOOD and drinks, shrimps,

desire for.

18. Alternating Symptoms in the Homœopathic

Treatment of Bipolar Disorder: Platinum

metallicum: A Case Report

WHEELER, Miriam; OSKIN, Jamie;

LANGLAND, Jeffry (AJHM. 108, 4/2015)

Due to the oscillating nature of the symptoms

within rapid cycling or cyclothymic Bipolar

disorder, an accurate homœopathic prescription

must produce alternating symptoms within the

drug’s primary action in order to most similarly

match the disease state of the patient. By example,

this case report presents the homœopathic treatment

of a patient with diagnoses of Bipolar disorder,

attention deficit disorder, and anxiety. The patient

previously underwent conventional treatment for

several years, but was dissatisfied with the outcome

and sought alternative treatment. The patient was

prescribed Platinum metallicum because of its

similarity to the distinctive (characteristic) syptoms

of the “case of disease,” (Organon, §153). Within

two months of treatment, episodes of mania,

depression, and anxiety had stopped. After one year,

the patient demonstrated continued improvement

without relapses in Bipolar episodes. This case

presents an important example of Platinum

metallicum’s alternating symptoms within its

primary action, which makes it a valuable remedy in

the homœopathic treatment of Bipolar disorder.

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III. THERAPEUTICS

1. Die Zeichen der Besserung nach einer

homӧopa-thischen Verordnung

(The signs of amelioration after a homœopathic

remedy)

GYPSER, K.-H. (ZKH. 58, 1/2014)

The signs of amelioration or relief of the

sufferings of a patient are in ways different from

what the allopathic school holds, whereas the

objective signs and symptoms are reckoned in

Allopathy, Homœopathy reckons the subjective &

objective, both.

The author discusses under three groups. Group

A: Here the relief of the main symptoms, the

complaint for which the patient consulted, is

considered alongwith the patient’s mental

disposition, his social relationship, the sleep, the

general look, etc.

Group B: the main symptoms, how several or

less so, how acute, periodicity., etc.

Group C: The development of the symptoms in

the order of Centre to the Periphery; the state of

nails, skin, evacuations, the hair, the countenance,

urine/stool abnormalities etc.

Group D: The observation of H.C. ALLEN that

an acute disease will surely arise in the course of

treatment of a chronic disease which is a good sign.

BOGER has said that “it is a mistake to get a

reaction from but one or two organs; it savors too

much of stimulation as we see it in crude prescribing

and always leaves undesirable after effects …”

2. Homӧopathie im Franzӧssischen Krankenhaus

(Homœopathy in French Hospitals)

DINGES, Martin (ZKH. 58, 2/2014)

Hospitals meant a strategic significances for the

spread of Homœopathy. In the beginning, French

homœopaths followed the German example. Later

they temporarily managed to establish homœopathic

departments in the bigger hospitals and to take over

smaller houses. Comparison of treatment of patients

strictly selected at random showed good results in

the late eighteenforties. From the eighteen seventies

on, they have to found hospitals of their own in order

to represent Homœopathy in clinical context. Yet

more important for the spread of Homœopathy were

apparently the ambulances, which prevailed in the

largest French cities.

3. Die Spanische grippe und ihre

Behandlungserfolge durch Homӧopaten

weltweit

(The Spanish Flu and its treatment successes

through Homœopathy Worldwide)

JAHN, Stefannie (ZKH. 58, 3/2014)

The “Spanish Influenza” was the most,

devastating pandemic so far in the history of

mankind. The disease was also treated by

homœopaths worldwide. Even today the apparent

success of the treatment is referred to. Unfortunately

the data is often imprecise, although the discrepancy

between cases of treated patients – outpatients or

inpatients – is clear. Also there was no unity of

Homœopathy. The homœopaths were rather poly-

therapeutic. The assessment of such therapy and its

success is complex and must accommodate various

criteria. A pure reporting is wanting for

contemporary evaluation.

4. Psorinum bei Heuschnupfen

(Psorinum in Hay fever)

SCHREIER, Thomas (ZKH. 58, 3/2014)

A 24-year female student complained

telephonically of constant sneezing with

accompanying ‘allergic’ symptoms. There were

good repertoriable symptoms. Pulsatilla C30.

Though there was amelioration of her complaint she

reported cough.

Many of her complaints including a revival of

energy were revived; however cough was bothering.

Whereas she felt worse in warm and better in cool,

now she felt the opposite; she felt worse in cool air.

Psorin 200c.

Cough and the agg. from cool air were all

relieved and her natural state of amel. in cool air, etc.

returned. A dose of Pulsatilla 200c and all her

complaints were relieved.

Refer to Kent with reg. to Puls. and Psorin. The

author has also quoted CLARKE (“Psorinum has

cured more cases of hay fever in my practice than

any other single remedy.”)

5. Optimierungsmöglichkeiten bei der

Polaritätsanalyse nach Heiner FREI mit dem

Computer programm and jRep.

(Possibility of optimisation by polarity analysis

according to Heiner FREI with the computer

Programme jRep.)

STEGEMANN, Thorsten (ZKH. 58, 4/2014)

Ways to optimize the polarity analysis by

Heiner FREI by a hybrid grading – and on-line-

questionnaire and a prospect to a possibility of

integration of the analysis of polarities into the polar

rubrics are presented.

[Personally, I feel that the computer plays a major

role and there is less Art. I don’t know whether I

will improve my knowledge of Materia Medica in

this way. Of course there is no question that Dr.

FREI’s method is welcome = KSS].

6. Zur Frage der Mobilisation von Arsen durch die

Einnahma von Arsenicum album D6.

(Accumulation of Arsenic due to continued

intake of Arsenicum album D6, Questioned)

BUCHHEIM-SCHMIDT, Susan and RIGSEL,

Roger (ZKH. 58, 4/2014)

In the ZKH, 46, 1/2002 there was an article

titled “uncontrolled intake of low potency with lethal

result” wherein the authors – Christian REITER and

Christoph ABERMANN – have said that the patient

had indications of Arsenic intoxication in blood and

urine, and she died as a result. This patient was on

Arsenicum album D6 as well as some other

‘homœopathic’ medicines in low potencies.

There were discussions following this. Now

these authors also conclude that it cannot be said or

proved that the intoxication which has led to the

death of the patient was due to uncontrolled intake

of low potency Arsenicum.

7. Stellungnahme zum Artikel: Zur Frage der

Mobilisation von Arsen durch die Einnahme

von Arsenicum album D6

(On the article on the question of collection of

Arsenic from taking Arsenicum album D6)

REITER Christian von (ZKH. 58, 4/2014)

Has argued further and concludes that the

explanation by BUCHHEIM-SCHMIDT, is not

convincing enough.

Very stimulating discussion.

8. Behandlung einer seltenen Hauterkrankung mit

Silicea

(Treatment of a rare skin disease with Silicea)

LUCAE, Christian (ZKH. 58, 4/2014)

In this case report the therapy with Silicea of a

rare skin disorder, Lichen spinulosus in a 9 yr. old

girl is described. The rubric “symmetrical

eruptions” played an important role in finding the

remedy. The relevant literature is carefully read

through in different Repertories and Materia

Medicas.

Silicea 200 cured the patient.

9. Fallbericht Zystitis: Mercurius

(Case Report Cystitis: Mercurius)

GYPSER Klaus-Henning (ZKH. 58, 4/2014)

24 Year-old female suffered from acute Cystitis.

The remedies Bryonia and Mercurius are carefully

compared and Mercurius cured. Materia Medica

comparisons were made with Materia Medica Pura

of HAHNEMANN.

10. Case of a boy with Nephrotic Syndrome

OWENS, Sujata (AH. 21/2015)

6-year boy with Focal Segmental

Glomerulosclerosis after a Kidney Biopsy. This

disease is considered incurable and relapses are

expected once medications are stopped. The boy

was on Steroids and Diuretics.

OWENS has repertorized 20 or more rubrics –

all ‘characteristics’! she found 4 remedies which

have to be differentiated: Phosphorus, Lycopodium,

Silica and Aranea. OWENS writes “I knew from

the strong focus on spider drawings, fear of spiders,

spider story, dreams of animals, that the remedy had

to be a spider.”

And Aranea diadema in LM potencies. Starting

with LM 3 and going up to LM 8 over July 2012 to

July 2013. All Lab. Reports are normal.

[While many of the symptoms are found in Aranea

diadema, justifying the choice, the author says that

the choice was due to her knowledge of the

‘Spiders’and the boy’s drawings of spiders! Such

arguments have no place in the Homœopathy that I

have read. In the past decade there was rush of such

ideas put out by many ‘leading’ teachers of

Homœopathy. One of them said that he gave a

Spider remedy because the patient loved knitting and

climbing! And who amongst us can analyse with 15

– 20 rubrics said as ‘characteristic’. [Characteristics

are only few that one can analyse on a paper – say 5

or 6 only. Comments welcome = KSS].

12. Directions for Homœopathy: What do eminent

homœopaths see?

SPERLING, Vatsala (AH. 21/2015)

This is a record of the Interview Kim ELIA had

with Dr. Praful VIJAYKAR, with regard to the

therapeutic techniques he recommends, ‘Predictive

Homœopathy’. Dr. Peter FISHER of U.K. also joins

in this. [As many Practitioners, so many variations

all swearing by HAHNEMANN! Perhaps it is the

‘freedom’ Homœopathy gives to one. Are these new

teachniques each of which claims to be better than

what was Hahnemann’s or his true followers like

Bœnninghausen, Guernsey, Wells, et al? whose

beacons are still enlightening enough. Have these

new techniques better one LIPPE, for example. No,

to my knowledge which of course is little. But if it

has I will be grateful to know. = KSS].

13. The Joshis’ Method: A case of Recurrent

Nosebleed

SPERLING, Vatsala (AH. 21/2015)

A eleven-year old girl’s Nosebleed cured over a

period of twenty months and it has taken nearly 5

pages, to narrate this! Discussing ‘ Kingdoms’ and

the ‘mind’ etc., the remedy is justified. [In our

regular daily practice, we have had Nosebleeds and

treated them successfully. We know only one

method. Cases like this may be seen in Erastus

Cases Report, hardly one third of a page. How many

cases we have read of Ad. LIPPE putting his remedy

succinctly and clearly! And C.M. BOGER, so brief

and clear. One can learn from these giants. Those

of us who stick to them are blessed! = KSS].

14. Working with Trauma in Homœopathy: Trauma

Informed Interviewing

BUTEHORN, Loretta (AH. 21/2015)

This is with referece to Trauma-related Stress

Disorder. Short and simple method is how to be

sympathetic and relate to the patient.

15. Behandlung der Streptokokken-Angina

(Treatment of Streptococal Angina)

LUCAE, Christian (ZKH. 59, 1/2015)

Group A Streptococcal Tonsillopharyngitis is a

common disease in Paediatrics, but also in the

General Practice and in ENT. The guidelines for

therapy have changed during the last years: in the

meantime the general prescription of Antibiotics is

not encouraged any more and more sophisticated

therapy regimes should be applied. The recurrent

therapy lines are discussed in relation to the

scientific literature.

Therapeutic options with homœopathic

remedies are discussed with acute and chronic

reports taking into account the relevant

homœopathic literature.

16. Wirksamkeit homöopathischer Arzneien bei der

akuten Höhenkrankheit

(Action of homœopathic remedies in acute

altitude sicknesses)

STEINER Urs (ZKH. 59, 2/2015)

Ambitious tours in ice and snow upto altitudes

of 6500m and also hikes to the summit of Mount

Kilimanjaro with 5893m or through the valley of

Kali Gandaki upto 3000m (Johnson) in Nepal fall

under the term ‘trekking’- always if the luggage is

just carried by some others.

The generalized term ‘Trekking’ misleads many

more and more untrained hikers to tours into

mountains without knowledge of the inherent risks.

In acute mountain sickness the conventional

treatment is with Nifedepine or Dexamethasone.

There are realiable homœopathic treatments which

require good knowledge of the symptoms.

The author recommends 5 remedies plus Arnica

(and as prophylactic substitution Magnesium) for a

Trekker.

[von BOENNINGHAUSEN has, for intense

thirst of a mountaineer 2-3 pills of Natrum

muriaticum immediately helps. = KSS].

17. Hyoscyamus in Seasickness – Therapieerfolge

von Christoph Hartung

(Hyoscyamus in Seasickness – Therapy

successes by Christoph Hartung)

LUCAE, Christian (ZKH, 59, 2/2015)

Homœopathic physician Christoph

HARTUNG (1779 – 1853) has published a case

series which is not known to all and seems to have

been lost.

Christoph HARTUNG was a field Surgeon in

the Austrian army and later as Chief Physician in

several Military hospitals. From 1819 he was

engaged with Homœopathy and was in Hahnemann

Students association for medicinal provings.

His main work was Fragmenta aus den

hinterlassenen Schriften des Hofraths

Hahnemann von 1848. HAHNEMANN received

the manuscript of this work shortly before his

passing in 1843. Later MELANIE wrote to

HARTUNG on 30.7.1843 from Paris that these

papers would be in HAHNEMANN’s memoirs and

Case Register and published soon, since

HAHNEMANN had read some excerpts and was

very much impressed.

HARTUNG’s book contains several case

histories including GRAF’s treatment of GRAF

RADETZKY who suffered from a serious Eye

Tumor which was cured with Homœopathy.

HARTUNG found that Hyoscyamus produced

symptoms similar to the severe nausea experienced

while travelling in a rough sea. He gave the remedy

in the 12 potency and had excellent results.

However, in our repertories it is rarely found for

this condition. Neither do the several books on

Therapeutics. [Again this reminds that we should go

to the source and it is the symptoms that are similar

and should be compared for selection of the curative

remedy. = KSS].

18. Scheinmodalitäten (Fake modalities)

ROHRER, Anton (ZKH. 59, 2/2015)

Modalities play an important role in the

selection of a remedy, i.e. they became a specific

method known as Polarity Analysis by Heiner FREI.

But to recognize a modality of aggravation there

must be determinable also the opposite amelioration.

These opposite amelioration frequently are not direct

effects of a remedy but are only expressions of the

languages to indicate the suspension of the

modalities of aggravation (fake modalities). That

can be presented wonderfully by the

Symptomenlexikon by UWE PLATE.

19. Acute cases of Women’s Illness Treated in

Homœopathic OPD.

MASTER, Farokh (HH. 41, 1/2015)

Two cases of (1) a young College girl and

another (2) a middle-aged woman, both eruptions on

the genitals recurrent. The first one was given

Causticum 30, then 200 and in the second case Borax

200.

20. The change of Life in Women: Role of

Homœopathy.

THOMAS, Rekha (HH. 41, 1/2015)

The article gives list of Rubrics relevant to

‘Change of Life in Women’.

21. A Meditative Approach of Case Taking: A case

of PCOS at the Delusion Level

SHAH, Devang, SHAH, Jayesh

(HH. 41, 1/2015)

The learned authors say of their approach to

cases that may be called as ‘Process approach’ or

‘Life Force Approach’. This is based on a simple

phenomenon that the ‘Life Force’ has an inherent

tendency to resonate with the similar. The method

involves getting the patient into a state of experience

rather than into talking about the issues. Anything

expressed spontaneously or intensely has the change

to guide the patient to move the patient into deeper

levels of experience. This is done by a gentle

suggestion from the physician to the client to close

their eyes and experience the symptom, sensation or

the emotion that is experienced or experienced with

intensity. This resonance creates imagery or a

dream-like state within the patient. As if the person

has started seeing and experience a dream right in

your presence. In feels like she/he is in a kind of

trance or non-ordinary reality. Once the person

closes the eyes it is amazing to see the surfacing of

parallel realities.

A case is narrated in which Alumina silicata

200 was given. [“The remedy has both the confusion

of Alumina and fixity of Silica”! These

“approaches” make me dizzy and I do not find any

connection with HAHNEMANN, HERING, KENT,

SCHMIDT and such others who are the beacon

lights. None of these forefathers are any where in

this ‘novel’ therapy = KSS].

22. Managing pain with Homœopathy – A

collection of Cases

SANKARAN, Rajan, et al. (HH. 41, 2/2015)

When managing acute and chronic pain with

Homœopathy there are a variety of approaches one

can use. Some practitioners use the pathological and

physical symptoms as the key, and others use Key

Notes and Mind symptoms in combination with the

Generals. Throughout this article, we will look at

four cases by various doctors at the ‘other song’

clinic which utilize different approaches to illustrate

the efficacy of using homœopathic medicine in pain

management. [This Abstract is as given in the

journal. I do not know why the word ‘management’

is used and not ‘cure’ which is used in the Organon

and in later works of the Masters HERING,

BŒNNINGHAUSEN, ALLEN, CLOSE, et al. I do

not know why the ‘modern Masters’ in Homœopathy

use this words ‘management’: ‘approach’, instead of

‘cure’. Could it be due to the fact that a ‘cure’is not

achieved but one ‘approaches’ the patient and

‘manages’ him? = KSS].

23. Pain Management with Homœopathy

MASTER, Farokh (HH. 41, 2/2015)

The learned author says that his focus in this

article is on Chronic pain Syndrome.

Two cases are briefly discussed. In one case he

gave Sumbul 30, several doses. In the second case,

it was Allium cepa 30 several doses followed by

Natrum muriaticum 30 once a week for 8 weeks.

24. Reflections of Pain in Infancy and Healing with

Homœopathy

SHIVA PRASAD, Jyoshua (HH. 41, 2/2015)

This is more a theoretical article using pain

assessment scales in Infants based on behavior

changes; based on combination of physiological and

behavioral changes, pain Types and Classification in

Infants, etc. all appearing scholarly.

The learned author has given the references in

Knerr’s Repertory and BBCR with regard to Infants

and children Sections.

[My earliest Practice in the early 1960s were infants

and children. And with Bell’s Diarrhoea, Allen’s

Key Notes and Clarke’s Prescriber, almost all

cases were treated one or two doses only; especially

with no hospitals around except one or two Mission

hospitals. It was this Practice which helped me to

reinforce strongly the greatness of Homœopathy as

the Science of Therapeutics. Quick relief of

suffering Infants will bring whole families into

Homœopathy. I can assure = KSS].

25. Disorders of Digestion

MASTER, Farokh (HH.41, 3/2015)

Two cases are narrated. In each case several

doses were given, e.g. three doses a day for 15 days

(!), Rhus tox 30 daily for a week, then 200 once a

week for 2 months (!).

26. Digestive ailments: An approach with

homœopathic Facial Analysis

BORTON, Louise; KIRE, Ellen

(HH. 41, 3/2015)

Again an ‘approach’ with a new method – study

of the face of the patient (HFA method). The author

also refers to ‘Complete Dynamis Software’. Sepia

30 (Sycotic remedy) daily dose from 2 Dec. 2010 to

15 October 2011!

[What can one comment on such doses? Where is

Homœopathy in this? How could a journal publish

such cases which would mislead younger

homœopaths? = KSS].

27. Colocynthis, Loxosceles reclusa and Patient

made Isodes in Cancer: Case Reports

RICHARDSON-BOEDLER, Cornelia

(AJHM. 108, 2/2015)

The homœopathic Plant remedy Colocynthis is

demonstrated in two Case Reports have presented to

effectively treat Cancer of the Liver and Carcinoid

rectal growth. In a third case, the effects of the

patient-made Isodes in chronic diarrhea and multiple

Myeloma are discussed. Broader applicability of

these healing agents in cancerous conditions is

suggested. The remedy Loxosceles reclusa is

recommended for patients seeking transplantation

after surgical loss. The bite of this spider is known

to cause a delayed hypersensitivity in victims,

similar to that which occur in patients rejecting

Organ transplantation. Hence, the homœopathic

preparation acts preventively.

28. Chronic Illness and the Human Microbiome

WHITMONT, Ron (AJHM. 108, 3/2015)

The Human Microbiome Project

(http://hmpdacc.org) (HMP), launched in 2008, used

genetic sequencing technology to determine that

there are upwards of 10,000 different microbial

species and more than one hundred trillion different

individual organisms colonizing the average healthy

human body. This diverse amalgamation organisms

participation in every essential aspect of life

including immunity, digestion, respiration, social

interaction and reproduction. The discovery of the

human microbiome shifts the conventional paradigm

of health and redefines acute infection as crucial in

establishing long-term health. more importantly, the

human microbiome brings to light the need for

environmentally sustainable approaches to health

case, such as Homœopathy, and provides a larger

context within which to judge the long-term benefits

and risks of medical intervention.

29. Retrospective Analysis of usage of a Polychrest

Homœopathic Remedy – Lachesis muta – in a

Primary Health Center

WADHWANI, Gyandas G

(AJHM. 108, 3/2015)

The author says that in the light of his practice

Lachesis muta has been less often used since the

clinical conditions in the HERING’s Guiding

Symptom, H.C. ALLEN’s Key Notes and

CLARKE’s Dictionary, do not come up in the

present times. However, an analysis has been made

by the author of the conditions that came up in the

Primary Health Centre (PHC) at the Delhi Govt.

Homœopathic Dispensary in which Lachesis has

been found to be of relevance. Several symptoms

mentioned in the Key Notes, Guiding Symptoms

and Dictionary have been verified. Detailed charts

have been given. [It would be of great value if other

Hospitals undertake such a study. This would be

possible only if we have central association which

would collect material from the Govt. Homœopathic

Hospitals as well as private Practitioners. In fact

because the practitioners during Herings era did so.

[Unfortunately we do not have a towering figure

who would command such work. = KSS].

30. Homœopathic Treatment of Lumbar

Spondylosis: An Observational Study

RAJ, Praveen and BABU, Bayula

(AJHM. 108, 3/2015)

Between February and December 2013 patients

with Lumbar Spondylosis attending the outpatient

department of the Father Muller Homœopathic

Medical College and Hospital in Mangalore, India

were considered for the study. Patients younger than

30 and older than 70 years of age were excluded.

Medical diagnosis was based on clinical

symptomatology before and after treatment using a

Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The duration of

improvement was noted.

All cases improved substantially most within

one month. No case longer than 2 months to

experience benefit.

Conclusion: “Homœopathy appears to be

effective in treating Lumbar Spondylosis. Larger

more rigorous trials are justified. [I am unable to

appreciate the ‘Cautions’ statement of Dr. Praveen

Raj. Homœopathic Physician “Homœopathy

appears to be effective in treating Lumbar

Spondylosis…” Does he have doubts about

Homœopathy’s effectiveness? We in our practice of

nearly 60 yrs. treating all sorts of ailments including

Lumbar Spondylosis never doubted Homœopathy’s

effectiveness. If it fails, it is the mistake of the

Physician who did not select the homœopathic

remedy. With his first experience of restoration of

his finger – which was about to be amputated – by a

single dose of Arsenicum album 30, HERING had

no doubt ever. How much ‘larger more rigorous

trials’will satisfy Dr. Prakash Raj, Dr. Bayula Babu?

= KSS].

31. Fifteen years Experience with

Homœoprophylaxis

HILTNER, Richard (AJHM. 107, 2/2014)

Over a fifteen-year period, 184 children

between ages two months and twelve years were

given potentized Polio, trivalent Diphtheria, Pertusin

and Tetans (DPT) and Measles, Mumps and Rubella

(MMR) vaccines. None of the children developed

those diseases over the course of the study. There

was one episode of a minor skin eruption.

If one adds his information to the results of the

study by Isaac Golden on 1305 children thirteen

years, almost 1,500 children receiving homœopathic

immunization obtained excellent results.

In a letter to the Editor (AJHM. 107, 4/2014) Dr.

Rodney SCHAFFER, MD, DHt concludes “Dr.

Hiltner’s patient population was 184. This falls for

short of the 16,000 that would be needed to discern

a protective effect. “If we, as homœopaths, are to

fight against the ‘half-truths’ or untruths” that

“shroud” our Science’ which is so often dismissed,

we must start at home. We must interpret any data

we present rationally and objectively and not draw

specious conclusions from meaningless data.” [The

critic should first understand that Homœopathic

cures cannot be so ‘objective’ as the dominant

medicine nor in the light of the hitherto known

physical/chemical Sciences. Sir Jagdis Chandra

Bose who is renowned for his experiments and

invention of wireless communication – before

Marconi as universally accepted – concluded that

“the more he pushes his experiments forward, the

line demarcating the material from immaterial

vanishes.” In my more than half century of

Homœopathy practice and as a regular reader of the

British, American and German homœopathic

Literature, I have clearly concluded that

Homœopathy or its Medical actions, cannot be

explained-as yet-in the light of the physical

sciences and every explanation given will be

rejected by the Mainstream Medicine or those

who want to judge in that manner HAHNEMANN

has said that Homœopathy and Allopathy are like

East and West. Unfortunately many of our ‘Learned

Colleagues’ think it will be ‘scienific’ only if one

does not come in a conclusion ever.

I would like to draw the attention that as early

as 1957, there was a careful study of Homœopathic

Preventive Medicine in Polio, and Dr. Henry

EISFELDER presented the paper titled Oral

immunization of Anterior poliomyelitis – A

Preliminary Report which appeared in the

‘Hahnemannian Gleanings’ Vol. XXXIV, August

1967. The conclusion was:

That settles the futile attempts to convince the

critics. The relief that one feels cannot be explained

by any one however ‘scientific’ one may be; it is that

one individual’s ‘subjective’ experience.”

[In the past one or more decades the British Journal

has been carrying whole issues full of ‘researches’

and almost all have concluded that ‘further

researches are required.’ = KSS].

32. Judging Homœopathic Evidence in the Court of

Medical Opinion

MALERBA, Larry (AJHM. 108, 3/2015)

The empirical evidence produced by

homœopathic practice should be sufficient in the

court of medical opinion to legitimize the art and

science of Homœopathy. Firsthand clinical

experience, in the author’s opinion, not only

measures upto the evidence produced by clinical

trials, it is superior. Homœopaths should embrace

this basic truth and not accept scientistic demands

for proof made by skeptics or by the medical

mainstream. In fact, homœopaths should advocate

for a significant change in standards of evidence—

one that restores credibility to medical empiricism

and elevates the value of clinical case studies to at

least that of research studies. This is the type of

evidence most relevant to individualized patient

care. [I would draw the attention of the interested to

a four part series of ‘Oral Immunization of Anterior

Poliomyelitis’ by Dr. Henry W. EISFELDER, MD,

FACS, New York, published in the Journal of the

American Institute of Homœopathy, May 1958,

Sept.-Oct. 1961. In the 60th – a Final Report, Dr.

EISFELDER concludes: “Perhaps we are too

optimistic, but on the strength of what has been

reported upto now we are satisfied that in Lathyrus

sativa, we have a safe and sure method of

Poliomyelitis prevention. We rest our case.”

So, you see, for decades Homœopathy has been

attempting to show the efficacy of Homœopathy in

Preventive Medicine and the dominant School has

been determining it without ever having tried in the

Clinic and they are not wanting their supported from

amongst homœopathic. It is high time that we do not

waste our energy in trying to convince the

inconvincible. Poor- GALILEO and in our own

times poor BENVENISTE, who was virtually killed

by these inconvincibles who ridicule. = KSS].

33. Miasmatic Doctrine: A Short History

GALASSI, Renzo (AJHM. 107, 1/2014)

The development of the homœopathic idea of a

Miasm at the base of a disease which torment a

person for long is presented here through the

statements of its illustrious and important thinkers

from HAHNEMANN, Von BOENNINGHAUSEN

to MASI-ELIZALDE and Proceso Sanchez

ORTEGA, with a case treated using the teachings of

ORTEGA.

The idea as it developed over the one and half

centuries is briefly explained. The lineage is:

i) Samuel HAHNEMANN (1755-1843)

ii) Von BOENNINGHAUSEN (1785-1864)

iii) GHG JAHR (1800-1875)

iv) James Tyler KENT (1849 – 1916)

v) JH. ALLEN (1854 – 1925)

vi) HA. ROBERTS (1868 – 194O

vii) N. GHATAK

viii) Pierre SCHMIDT (1894 – 1986)

ix) TP PASCHERO (1904 – 1986)

x) Alfons MASI-ELIZALDE (1932 – 2003)

xi) Proceso SANCHEZ ORTEGA (1919 –

2005)

This indeed is a comprehensive list.

Dr. GALASSI presents a case analysed and

prescribed according to the classification of

SANCHEZ-ORTEGA.

[It is very difficult to comprehend the Miasm in

practice; only one who is gifted with sound thinking

and extensive and deep study of Philosophy can

grasp it. In the early 1960s I came to read the essay

of PASCHERO ‘Psora, the Idiosyncrasy

Fundamental of Pathology’ and was fascinated and

set me thinking for long, long time. However, in the

din of a large number of patients in a day, one has to

do very quick thinking for which one has to grasp the

Miasm Theory well. Strangely we do not come

across even one case which has verified the so-called

HERING’s Law of Cure. I enquired through a letter

to some of the well-known Homœopathy

practitioners whether in their experience there

appeared a skin eruption towards the end of the Cure

process as clearly told by HERING. The answer was

‘no’except in one or two cases! Did it mean that

HERING and the theory is wrong, or the ‘cure’was

not a true ‘cure’ as defined by HAHNEMANN and

von BOENNINGHAUSEN? Or the teaching of

Homœopathy is so poor? I felt baffled and let it

remain so; theory of Chronic Miasms is now more

an ‘enigma’. = KSS.]

34. Symptomarme Fälle in der Kinderheilkunde

NICHOFF, Klaus (AHZ. 253, 2/2008)

Three cases of children which presented too

little symptoms to prescribe upon. The author

demonstrates how in such cases we can with careful

observation pick up indications for successful

prescription.

--------------------------------------------------------------

IV. PHARMACOLOGY

1. Definition und Reproduzierbarkeit

homӧopathisches Medikamente

Definition reproducibility homœopathic

medicines

PӦTTERS, Hedwig (ZKH. 58, 1/2014)

Wrong names, confusion of names, adoption of

antiquated and thus wrong nomenclature, the use of

differing parts of a plant or labeling of different

species as a source of a remedy even from official

drug authorities, may lead to doubt concerning the

optimum effectiveness of different substances.

Medicines manufacturers must beware of wrong

medicine.

The author has given several examples:

Anthrakokali; Bothrops lanceolatus; Gaultheria

aetheroleum; Hekla tephra; Hippomanes;

Hippozaenium; Hydrastis canadensis; Hydrocotyle

asiatica; Ipomoea purga; Lapis albus; Lithium

benzoicum; Mercurius vivus; Micrurus corallines;

Naja naja; Pulsatilla pratensis nigricans;

Pyrogenium; Rhus radicans; Stannum; Ulmus

campestris.

2. Die Nosoden – Problematik und Perspektiven in

der Schweiz

(The Nosodes – Problems and Perspectives in

Switzerland)

RYFEL, Jacqueline (ZKH. 58, 3/2014)

The term ‘Nosode’ was first introduced by

Constantin HERING. With regard to Psorinum he

wrote that Psorinum and such other medicines out of

disease products may be called Nosode because of

the active salt contained in them. (1852 – see

Vol.III, p.1078 of Herings Med. Schriften, Gypser.)

Nosodes obtained from disease products have to

me problems with regard to the original materials,

manufacturing, registration and distribution in the

light of todays requirements in Switzerland, we

outlined.

3. High-dilution effects revisited. 1.

Physicochemical aspects

BELLAVITE, Paolo; MARZOTTO, Marta et

al. (HOM. 103, 1/2014)

See in RESEARCH in this QHD.

4. High-dilution effects revisited. 2.

Pharmacodynamic mechanisms

BELLAVITE, Paolo; MARZOTTO, Marta et

al.

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

See in RESEARCH in this QHD.

5. Homœopathic Product Regulation: Evaluating

the Food and Drug Administration’s Regulatory

Framework after a Quarter Century – A Public

Hearing: JOHNSON, Christopher, Editor-in-

Chief, AJHM. 108, 2/2015)

On April 20th and 21st, the United States Food

and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted historic

hearings concerning to regulatory framework around

homœopathic drug products. these hearings were

held as the first step of broader review process ….

In total forty- five people were allotted time to speak,

either as individuals or as part of a group. Speakers

represented a broad array of stakeholder groups,

including manufacturers, practitioners and public

advocacy groups…..

Here we are publishing the testimony given at

these hearings on behalf of the American Institute of

Homœopathy. …. Four presenters spoke

successively – Ronald Whitmont, MD, Bernardo

Merizalde, MD, David Riley, MD and Michelle

Dossett, MD, PhD, MPH. In addition the testimony

of Karl Robinson, MD is included. Finally, the

testimony of Alvin J Lorman, a Food and Drug

Attorney who has represented homœopathic industry

groups in FDA regulatory matters.

[The Testimony is given in full; well worth

reading by all = KSS].

--------------------------------------------------------------

V. RESEARCH

1. Homœopathy Research Institute conference in

Barcelona: the first event of its kind in a decade

TOURNIER, Alexander; ROBERTS, E. Rachel

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

31st May to 2nd June 2013 saw the first

Homœopathy Research Conference organized by the

newly created Homœopathy Research Institute

(HRI). This event, held in Barcelona, was a timely

opportunity for many Homœopathy researchers from

around the world to meet and share their findings.

To put this event in context, 2005 saw the

publication of the Shang et al. meta-analysis

published in The Lancet and heralded by its editor as

‘the end of Homœopathy’.1, 2 The negative

conclusions drawn by this study were subsequently

shown to be due to poor methodology.3 Despite this,

the effects of The Lancet study continue to be seen

far and wide; the ‘Evidence Check 2’4 report by the

UK Parliament’s Science & Technology Committee

in 2010 stated that Homœopathy is placebo, an

assertion repeated by the UK Chief Medical Officer

in January 2013,5 both based primarily on this one

flawed study.

The continuing influence of the 2005 Lancet

publication highlights the need for objective,

accurate reporting of the existing literature, as well

as new high-quality Homœopathy research to

answer key questions such as what conditions can

Homœopathy treat and how do homœopathic

medicines work? Founded in 2007, the HRI is a

charity dedicated to addressing these needs

(www.homeoinst.org).

Thriving scientific enquiry

The HRI conference demonstrated that

Homœopathy research is a thriving field of scientific

enquiry and was a compelling reminder that high

caliber teams are carrying out robust projects in

respected academic institutions around the world.

The event attracted 180 delegates from over 30

countries, representing all sectors of the

homœopathic profession – clinicians, academics,

political representatives, manufacturers and

pharmacies. A full report on the conference along

with the presentation abstracts is included in this

edition of Homœopathy.

Prior to Barcelona, a full-scale international

conference dedicated solely to high quality research

in Homœopathy had not been seen on the conference

calendar for almost a decade. Dr. Peter Fisher and

Robbert van Haselen ran five ‘Improving the

success of Homœopathy’ research conferences at the

then Royal London Homœopathic Hospital, starting

in 1997, but the last of these was held in January

2006.

Regular focus

Following the resounding success of HRI

Barcelona 2013, HRI is now planning to hold an

international Homœopathy research conference

every two years. This will provide a regular focus

for the specialist field of Homœopathy research,

alongside broader-themed annual events such as the

Liga Medicorum Homœopathica Internationalis

Congress and International Congress for

Complementary Medicine Research (ICCMR), or

more specialist symposia such as the meetings of

Groupe International de Recherche sur

l’Infinitesimal (GIRI).

The field of Homœopathy research is growing

and evolving rapidly. As momentum builds within

this scientific discipline, we look forward to making

the HRI conference an ongoing highlight of the

academic calendar for years to come.

References:

1. Shang A, Huwiler-Müntener K, Nartey L, et al.

Are the clinical effects of Homœopathy placebo

effects? Comparative study of placebo-

controlled trials of Homœopathy and Allopathy.

Lancet 2005; 366:726-732.

2. The Lancet. The end of Homœopathy. The

Lancet 2005;366: 690.

3. Llüdtke R, Rutten ALB. The conclusions on the

effectiveness of Homœopathy highly depend on

the set of analyzed trials. J Clin Epidemiol

2008;61: 1197-1204.

4. Science and Technology Committee ‘Evidence

Check 2: Homœopathy’ HC 45, 22nd February

2010.

5. Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical

Officer, Departmemt of Health. Oral Evidence

taken before the Science and Technology

Committee, Wednesday 23 January 2013.

2. High-dilution effects revisited. 1.

Physicochemical aspects

BELLAVITE Paolo; MARZOTTO Marta et

al.

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

Several lines of evidence suggest that

homœopathic high dilutions (HDs) can effectively

have a pharmacological action, and so cannot be

consider merely placebos. However, until now there

has been no unified explanation for these

observations within the dominant paradigm of the

dose-response effect. Here the possible scenarios for

the physico-chemical nature of HDs are reviewed. A

number of theoretical and experimental approaches,

including Quantum Physics, Conductometric and

Spectroscopic measurements, Thermoluminescence,

and Model simulations investigated the peculiar

features of diluted/succussed solutions. The

heterogeneous composition of water could be

affected by interactive phenomena such as

coherence, epitaxy and formation of colloidal

nanobubbles containing gaseous inclusions of

Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon dioxide, Silica and,

possibly, the original material of the remedy. It is

likely that the molecules of active substance act as

nucleation centres, amplifying the formation of

supramolecular structures and imparting order to the

solvent. Three major models for how this happens

are currently being investigated: the water clusters or

clathrates, the coherent domains postulated by

Quantum Electrodynamics, and the formation of

Nanoparticles from the original solute plus Solvent

components. Other theoretical approaches based on

Quantum Entanglement and on Fractal-type self-

organization of water clusters are more speculative

and hypothetical. The problem of the

physicochemical nature of HDs is still far from to be

clarified but current evidence strongly supports the

notion that the structuring of water and its solutes at

the nanoscale can play a key role.

3. High-dilution effects revisited. 2.

Pharmacodynamic mechanisms

BELLAVITE Paolo; MARZOTTO Marta et

al.

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

The pharmacodynamics aspects of

homœopathic remedies are appraised by laboratory

studies on the biological effects at various levels

(cellular, molecular and systemic). The major

question is how these medicines may work in the

body. The possible answers concern the

identification of biological targets, the means of

drug-receptor interactions, the mechanisms of signal

transmission and amplification, and the models of

inversion of effects according to the traditional

‘simile’ rule. These problems are handled by two

experimental and theoretical lines, according to the

doses or dilutions considered (low-medium versus

high dilutions). Homœopathic formulations in low-

medium dilutions, containing molecules in the range

of ultra-low doses, exploit the extreme sensitivity of

biological systems to exogenous and endogenous

signals. Their effects are interpreted in the

framework of hormesis theories and paradoxical

pharmacology. The hypotheses regarding the action

mechanisms of highly diluted/dynamized solutions

(beyond Avogadro-Loschmidt limit) variously

invoke sensitivity to bioelectromagnetic

information, participation of water chains in

signaling, and regulation of bifurcation points of

systemic networks. High-dilution Pharmacology is

emerging as a pioneering subject in the domain of

nanomedicine and is providing greater plausibility to

the puzzling claims of Homœopathy.

4. Experimental evidence of stable water

nanostructures in extremely dilute solutions, at

standard pressure and temperature

ELIA, Vittorio; AUSANIO, Giovanni et al.

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

This paper presents the results of several

experiomental methods (FT-IR spectroscopy, UV-

vis spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy (FM),

Atomic Force Microscopy(AFM)) evidencing

structural changes induced in extremely diluted

solutions (EDS), which are prepared by an iterated

process of centesimal (1:100) dilution and

succussion (shaking). The iteration is repeated until

an extremely high dilution is reached, so that the

composition of the solution becomes identical to that

of the solvent—in this case water—used to prepare

it.

The experimental observations reveal the

presence of supramolecular aggregates hundreds of

nanometers in size in EDS at ambient pressure and

temperature, and in the solid state. These findings

confirm the hypothesis—developed thanks to

previous physico-chemical investigations—that

formation of water aggregates occurs in EDS. The

experimental data can be analyzed and interpreted

with reference to the thermodynamics of far-from-

equilibrium systems and irreversible processes.

5. HRI Barcelona 2013: inaugural conference

brings Homœopathy research into the spotlight

(Conference Report) E. ROBERTS, Rachel;

BAUMGARTNER, Stephan

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

Barcelona, 31st May – 2nd June, 2013 was the

setting for the Homœopathy Research Institute’s

first research conference – ‘Cutting Edge Research

in Homœopathy’. attended by 180 people from 33

countries, this event brought together researchers

from around the world to present and discuss their

latest findings. With 36 oral presentations from

leaders in the field, the scientific quality of the

programme was high and the content diverse.

This report summarises some of the key findings

reported during the conference, which demonstrated

the sound progress being made in the field.

Following the success of Barcelona 2013, the

HRI intends to hold similar conferences, dedicated

solely to Homœopathy research, on a bi-annual

basis, furthering the generation of new high quality

research through ever stronger international

collaborations.

6. Abstracts – Oral presentations:

1. In vitro testing of highly diluted cytokines and

specific nucleotide acid sequences applied in

micro-immunotherapy for rheumatoid Arthritis

ALSALEH, Ghada; CAPIEAUX, Etinne et al.

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

Background: TNF-α and IL-6 are key inflammatory

factors in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and constitute

targets for the development of anti-inflammatory

drugs. Rather than apply antagonist strategies, the

micro-immunotherapy approach is based on the use

of very low doses and highly diluted cytokines and

specific nucleotide acid sequences (SNA®) which,

administered sequentially, are intended to reduce

synovial inflammation and to regulate auto-immune

disorders associated with RA.

Objectives: the aim of these in vitro studies was

double: i) asses on various cellular models the

biological activities of serial homœopathic dilutions

of cytokines and SNA developed for a new Micro-

Immunotherapy medication (2L®PR) and ii)

investigate their mechanism of action by using

biomolecular tools.

Methods: a first set of experiments was performed

on human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS)

isolated from RA patients and cultured in

standardized conditions. Different protocols of

treatment were applied to examine the potential anti-

inflammatory effect of major Cytokines (IL-1, IL-2,

IL-6, IL-10, IFN-ɤ, TNF-α) administered in a large

range of dilutions (3CH to 27 CH). Homœopathic

solutions were tested alone or in association on FLS

activated with various concentrations of TN-α (0.1,

1 and 5 ng/ml). Preliminary test were carried out on

non-activated FLS. IL-6 release was determined in

cell supernatants by ELISA. In addition, the anti-

inflammatory effect of TNF-alpha 5CH formulated

in homœopathic pellets was controlled on this FLS

model. In a second set of experiments, high dilutions

(HD) of SNA sequences designed to target the gene

of two major proteins involved in RA (TNF-α and its

receptor p55) were investigated on a LPS-stimulated

macrophage (THP1)model. TNF-α synthesis and

release were determined by RT-PCR (mRNA) and

ELISA (protein), after stimulation by LPS (1μg/ml).

Results: in the first set of experiments, we observed

that priming of cells with TNF-α and IL-6dilutions

down regulated IL-6 release by TNF-α activated

FLS. The same result was obtained with pellets of

TNF-ɤ 5CH. This effect was not obtained with other

major cytokines such as IL-1, IL-Ra, IL-2, IL-10,

and IFN-ɤ. In the second set of experiments, we

demonstrated that HD of both SNA significantly

down-regulated TNF-α synthesis and release. This

biological activity was showed to be specific (no

effect of HD scramble SNA) and related to the level

of dilution (maximal effect with higher dilutions).

Unexpectedly, a reproducible stimulation effect of

HD water was obtained in the LPS-stimulated THP1

model. This biological activity of agitated water

(negative control) was not detected in TNF-α

activated FLS model.

Conclusion: these findings indicate that

homœopathic dilutions of TNF-α and IL-6 can

regulate IL-6 release by synoviocytes and that highly

diluted SNA RA can regulate TNF-α synthesis and

release by LPS-stimulated THP1. This exploratory

work supports the hypothesis that micro-

immunotherapy may represent an alternative

therapeutic approach for RA and that high dilutions

act in modulating mRNA expression of the targeted

genes.

This project was supported by the Walloon

Region (General Direction for Technologies,

Research and Energy) Grant nº5899 and Labo’Life

Belgium.

2. Homœopathic basic research: state of research

and quests for the future

BAUMGARTNER, Stephan

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

Homœopathy relies on two basic tenets: the

simile principle and the potentisation procedure.

The validity of the presumptions is being questioned

since there seems to be no obvious scientific basis

supporting justifiable application in pharmacy and

medicine. Nevertheless, Homœopathy is being

practiced and many patients as well as practitioners

are quite satisfied with clinical outcome in daily

practice. However, the lacking understanding does

lead not only to problems with legal recognition,

integration into public healthcare and reimbursement

by health insurances, but also hampers further

development and optimization of homœopathic

therapy. Therefore, development of a deeper

understanding of the two basic tenets of

Homœopathy is of ultimate importance.

Only few basic research projects seem to have

been performed to investigate the simile principle.

The fundamental pioneering work of van Wijk and

Wiegant so far has not been taken up by any other

research team. Determination of the areas of

applicability of the simile principle is an important

task, as is the elucidation of the mode of action.

Comparably more research has been carried out

to investigate the potentisation procedure. However,

I currently do not know any laboratory model that

reproducibly yields specific effects of highly diluted

homœopathic potencies in different laboratories, and

I do not know any theory that would satisfyingly

explain any such specific effects of ultramolecular

potencies. Thus I think that the following two main

topics have to be addressed in the next years:

development of optimal laboratory models to

identify specificity and reproducibility of

homœopathic effects, and identification of the long-

sought-for mode of action of highly diluted

potencies.

Are there any experimental laboratory systems

that reliably yield reproducible evidence for specific

effects of homœopathic potencies? To resolve this

question, it will be necessary to investigate various

model systems in parallel in different laboratories to

determine any necessary and sufficient conditions

for successful reproducibility; until now, according

to my knowledge, corresponding parameters could

be identified for three model systems only.

Optimization of the laboratory models does involve

the choice of the test organism in a defined

physiological state, an adapted potentised substance

in an adequate potency level applied in an optimal

route and dosage as well as optimal outcome

measures. Furthermore, it will be necessary to

develop model systems that not only demonstrate

empirical effects of single homœopathic remedies,

but also differentiate effects of different potentised

substances. Thus, model systems have to be simple

and cost-effective to enable easy implementation in

other laboratories, and to allow multiple parameters

to be tested in parallel (e.g. different substances

and/or potency levels). Finally, stability of any

experimental system used must be demonstrated by

systematic negative control (SNC) experiments on a

routine basis.

Identification of the mode of action of highly

diluted homœopathic remedies is the ultimate goal

of homœopathic basic research. This involves

determination of the general type of interaction

present between homœopathic potency and test

organism: local material-like, force-like, or non-

local entanglement-like. This not only implies

precise investigations of homœopathic preparations

by sophisticated physicochemical methods, but also

experimental approaches to test Hahnemann’s

premise of force-like effects of homœopathic

potencies. Furthermore, the general nature of the

effects of homœopathic potencies has to be

determined: reproducibly deterministic, chaotic or

inherently indeterministic. Solid experimental data

regarding these questions will enable development

of a precise theoretical frame-work, ultimately

resulting in a thorough understanding of

homœopathic effects.

3. Integrative nanomedicine: homœopathic

remedies as source and silica nanoparticles

acting as danger signals for nonlinear complex

adaptive systems

R. BELL, Iris (HOM. 103, 1/2014)

The alleged “implausibility” of homœopathic

medicines is a foundation for attacks on

Homœopathy. Skeptics insist that homœopathic

medicines are too dilute to contain any residual

material from their mineral, plant, or animal sources

or exert effects. Nonetheless, multiple studies on

cells, animals, plants, and human subjects have

demonstrated biological effects of remedies.

Research laboratories have shown that 6

different metal remedies and 3 different plant

remedies contain persistent remedy source

nanoparticles (NPs) from low to high potencies

beyond Avogadro’s number for bulk form materials.

Multiple laboratories also have documented the

ability of succussion in glass containers to release

measurable amounts of silicon and silica into

solution. Chikramane et al. (2012) showed that

succussion can generate heterogeneous

accumulation and layers of remedy source

nanoparticles that lead to physical transfer carryover

of nanoparticles from container to container during

the “serial dilution” procedures, even though bulk

form source materials may be diluted away. In

addition, Das et al. (2013) demonstrated that

homœopathic plant mother tinctures can

biosynthesize silver nanoparticles from precursors,

just as plant extracts can biosynthesize silica

nanoparticles from silica precursors.

Nanoparticles could explain many puzzling

observations and variability from study to study in

homœopathic research. Elia et al. have found aging-

related effects in homœopathically-prepared

remedies in terms of heat release and electrical

conductivity changes after storage – observations

that overlap nanoparticle phenomena of aging and

Ostwald ripening. Some homœopathically prepared

materials, e.g., specific bacteria nanoparticulates,

also emit detectable electromagnetic signals after

certain dilution-succussion processes. Certain

spectroscopy studies showed unique patterns for

homœopathically-prepared remedies compared with

control solvents (succussed and nonsuccussed).

Some investigators have also interpreted findings

from proving studies as indications of quantum

mechanical properties of remedies. NPs have

enhanced bioavailability, adsorptive capabilities,

adjuvant reactivity, electromagnetic, optical,

thermal, biochemical, and quantum properties

compared with their bulk forms. Different

concentrations of ethanol, variations in pH,

temperature, and glassware, as well as dilution

sampling and succussions (or sonication, vortexing)

will lead to different sizes, shapes, surface charges,

and properties of the resultant nanostructures. Even

minor variations in the latter variables could

contribute variability to remedy actions.

This talk discusses implications of the

homœopathic nanoparticulate findings for a

biological signaling model of the homœopathic

remedy nanostructures in initiating a cascade of

endogenously amplified adaptations and cross-

adaptations across the organism as a whole.

Homœopathic remedy manufacturing probably

generates NPs by a crude “top-down” mechanical

grinding in lactose and/or succussions in room

temperature ethanolic solutions within borosilicate

glass containers. Silica nanostructures could serve

as remedy source NP drug delivery vehicles and

nonspecific biological amplifiers. Nanoparticles

induce self-organized adaptive changes in the

organism at nontoxic doses (hormesis), serving as

salient, low level danger signals to the biological

stress response networks. Release of exosomes and

activation of stress response effectors, including heat

shock proteins, inflammasomes, cytokines and

neuroendocrine networks, would initiate and

progressively amplify beneficial compensatory

reactions. Thus, Homœopathy may represent the

earliest practical development of “integrative

nanomedicine” for using pulsed doses of

nanoparticles from natural source materials safely

and effectively in treating a wide range of acute and

chronic clinical conditions.

4. Modulation of chronic inflammation response

to Leishmania (L.) amazonensis by Thymulin

5cH in mice

SANTANA, Fabiana Rodrigues, PAULA,

Cideli De; et al.

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

In previous studies, we observed that thymulin

5CH could modulate the chronic inflammation

response to BCG in an experimental infection, by

increasing peritoneal B1 stem cells differentiation

into phagocytes and improving bacilli phagocytosis

efficiency into the infection site. Herein, the same

protocol was used to study the effects of thymulin

5CH in a protozoan experimental infection. Male

Balb/c mice were orally treated with thymulin 5CH

or vehicle during 60 days after the subcutaneous

inoculation of 2 x 105 units of Leishmania (L)

amazonensis into the footpad. Then, washing

inflammatory cell suspension from peritoneal cavity

and spleen were harvested to be identified and

quantified by flow cytometry and the tissue of

infection site, as well as the local lymph node were

harvested for histological examination and

quantification. Treated mice presented increase in

B1 stem cells percentage iun peritoneal washing

fluid and in spleen (p=0.0001), in relation to other

cell types, and more organized and exuberant

inflammation response in the infection site, with

decrease in the number of parasites per field

(p=0.05). No difference was seen in local lymph

node histology. The results show that thymulin 5CH

is able to improve B1 stem cell activation and

Leishmania (L) amazonensis phagocytosis

efficiency in mice, similarly to that observed

previously in BCG experimental infection.

5. Homœoprophylaxis: evidence from basic

research and practical applications

BRACHO, Gustavo; CALLICO, Adriana et al.

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

Homœo-Prophylaxis (HP), has been one of the

more questioned application of Homœopathy

despite it also could be considered one of the most

revolutionary uses in terms of benefits for health

quality. Although the protection effects and impact

(effectiveness and efficacy) are frequently difficult

to demonstrate, the lack of scientific research,

among other factors, hinder the acceptance and

implementation of HP but also limits the possibility

of running proper clinical studies. In order to break

down this close circle, in vitro experiment, animal’s

models and clinical evaluation should be combined

with the current knowledge and evaluation

methodologies of the immune system.

A summary of unpublished results from basic

research experiments on the effects of

homœopathically diluted biological material as

prophylactic formulations on in vitro and animal

models will be presented. According to the results,

an approach to underlying immune mechanism

could be proposed and discussed.

Results from 5 years follow up of large scale

Leptospirosis HP intervention will be complemented

and analysed. Further clinical evaluation of HP on

other epidemic diseases at large scale could be

presented.

A integral analysis of evidence coming from

experimental model and clinical testing suggest that

HP could be consider in fact as a very promising and

potent tool to face infectious diseases in the context

of current global situation.

6. Research involving animals: the case for cutting

edge ethics

BRITTON, Delny (HOM. 103, 1/2014)

Research into Homœopathy is undergoing a

welcome period of growth driven by the increasing

need to provide evidence for the therapy’s

effectiveness and mode of action.

In mainstream medicine animal-based research

has become integral to the development of new

drugs and medical procedures, despite only modest

success in extrapolating findings in animals to

humans. Homœopathy, based on provings

conducted on human volunteers and on clinical

confirmation of the similia principle, is not subject

to such shortcomings. Nevertheless animals with

artificially induced disease are being used in

homœopathic research in order to supplement

existing knowledge and to demonstrate that

Homœopathy ‘works’ under laboratory conditions.

To date such research has encompassed a wide

range of physical and psychological conditions and

involved procedures that have caused suffering –

often severe – in experimental animals. Whilst the

rights, dignity and welfare of humans participating

in homœopathic studies are safeguarded in line with

standards laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki,

international standards of protection for

experimental animals vary widely and are markedly

less stringent. Growing interest in Homœopathy

(and funding for research in this field) could lead to

a rise in animal-based studies at a time when public

trust in the regulations governing animal use in

medical research is falling – and calls for more

ethical and scientifically relevant alternatives are on

the increase.

This presentation examines some of the

scientific, political and legal issues relating to the

use of animals in homœopathic research. It

addresses the relative value of animal studies in

evidence bases; societal drivers in the development

of alternatives to animal experiments and the new

EU directive on the protection of animals in

scientific research. It also considers the

implications for homœopathy’s reputation as an

ethical profession and highlights opportunities to

demonstrate cutting edge ethics in the advancement

of homœopathic knowledge.

7. Pyridinium-N-phenolates as molecular probes

of serially diluted and agitated solutions:

preliminary results

CARTWRIGHT, Steven

(HOM. 103, 1/2017)

A systematic approach to the design of a

simple, chemical system for investigating the

fundamental nature of homœopathic medicines has

led to an experimental protocol for the use of

solvatochromic pyridinium-N-phenolate dyes as

molecular probes of serially diluted and agitated

solutions.

Preliminary results using this molecular probe

technology indicate that homœopathic potencies

affect the degree of self association between

zwitterionic dye molecules and between dye

molecules and a range of cations in solution under

non-equilibrium conditions. Reactions have been

monitored by following the loss of the characteristic

charge transfer band of a representative dye ET30 at

600nm in ethanol using standard quartz or

polystyrene cuvettes. The effect of homœopathic

potencies is seen with quart cuvettes, whereas no

difference is seen between controls and samples in

polystyrene cuvettes. Results are interpreted as

indicating

1. A greater level of dynamic ordering occurs in

solution in the presence of potencies, favouring

both dye-dye and dye-cation interactions.

2. Quartz appears to be essential in propagating

and/or amplifying the homœopathic signal- and

hence the effects described- whereas

polystyrene lacks this ability.

3. High levels of bulk water are not essential for

the observed action of potencies. Assays are

carried out in ethanol with only low (<0.1%)

levels of water. In the assays reported therefore

either ethanol is able to substitute for water in

any long-range potency induced solvent

ordering or the primary focus of ordering lies

with quartz itself.

The implications of these results, together with

future directions for research in this field, are

discussed.

8. Use and knowledge of hompathic drugs by the

general population in spain

MORENO, Gemma; GUALBERTO, Diaz-saez

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

Introduction: Homœopathy is already considered

as a reality in the daily health practice. More

patients and healthcare professionals use it on a

daily basis as an effective therapeutic alternative. A

pioneer investigation, conducted by Boiron in

Spain, has developed the 1st Study on Use and

Knowledge of Homœopathy in Spain. Further than

the academic value of this study, it has proven to be

a useful tool for institutional relationships and media

awareness purposes.

Objective: To show the degree of knowledge, use

and satisfaction about the use of the homœopathic

medicines in the Spanish population.

Material and methods: The study was performed

during 2010 and 2011 throughout an online

questionnaire applied on a sample of 3,344 people

over 18 years old coming from all of the Spanish

Regions.

Results: Homœopathy has shown to be a more and

more demanded therapeutic alternative; thus, one

out of three Spanish people(33%) have already used

it to relieve or treat several health problems, and

27% use it on an occasional or regular basis.

Navarra, Aragόn, Cataluña, Murcia and País Vasco

stand out as the Autonomieswith a higher

percentage of occasional and regular users.

According to the collected data, the word

Homœopathy is recognized by almost all the sample

and 75% of it spontaneously identify the

homœopathic treatments as a natural medical

therapy. Women stand out for a better knowledge

on this therapy than men, and the main female users

of Homœopathy are between 30 and 50 year old.

The lack of adverse events and effectiveness are the

main reasons for the Spanish users to start using

homœopathic medicines. Flu, cold, cough, sore

throat (52%), bronchitis and ear infection (12%) are

the most frequently Homœopathy treated

pathologies.

Conclusions: Eight out of ten (82%) people using

Homœopathy are satisfied or very satisfied with the

outcome of their treatments, and this figure grows

up to 99% in regular patients. In addition, if we take

into account that 87% of the users would

recommend it to relatives and friends, future can’t

be any brighter.

9. Effects of homœopathic treatments on the

cellular metabolism of wheat: validation of

microarrays data by quantitative real-time PCR

(qPCR)

GIOVANNI, Dinelli; ILLARIA, Marotti et al.

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

Plant-based models appear to be an useful

approach for basic research in Homœopathy in order

to fill gaps concerning theoretical models and

scientific basis. Such models make it possible to

overcome some of the inconveniences of clinical

trials for instance placebo effect, ethical issues,

duration and high costs; moreover they constitute a

vast and cheap source of biological material,

essential to perform a large number of experimental

repetition.

The main objective of the research was to give

novel insights on the not yet clarified mode of action

of homœopathic treatments and to provide reliable

information on their efficacy.

The plant-based model considered was the

“wheat growth model”. A total of 560 common

wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeds were used to

carry out the study; part of the seeds were stressed

with As2O3 0.1% to reduce germination and amplify

the effect of homœopathic treatment. The seeds

were been equally subdivided into four

experimental groups: control (non-stressed seeds

grown in distilled water); treated control (non-

stressed seeds grown in As2O3 45x); poisoned

(stressed seeds grown in distilled water); poisoned-

treated (stressed seeds grown in As2O3 45x). After 7

days of incubation seedlings were collected for

molecular analysis. Total RNA isolated from

seedling samples were used for microarray analysis

in order to study changes in gene expression over

different treatments. Subsequently, statistical and

bioinformatic analyses were performed to classify

genes in “induced” or “repressed” and to assign

them a supposed function. Comparative analyses

highlighted the particular effect of As2O3 45xin

stressed seeds. Real time PCR was performed to

validate gene expression profiles: data obtained with

microarray and real time PCR were found to be well

correlated.

This research provided novel insights on the

mode of action of homœopathic potencies and

constitute an important breakthrough in the study of

the molecular responses triggered in wheat by ultra-

high diluted treatments.

10. Sensitivity and likelihood ratio of symptoms in

patients with good therapeutic response to

Lycopodium, compared to patients with good

response to treatment with other homœopathic

medicines. Retrospective study

EIZAYAGA, José Enrique and CANAN María

Clara (HOM. 103, 1/2013)

Background and aims: Availability of reliable

guiding symptoms in order to accurately prescribe

homœopathic medicines is a matter of critical

importance. Recent published work has highlighted

the likelihood ratio (LR) of symptoms as an

objective manner of addressing the question. The

aim of the present study is to establish the sensitivity

and LR of 35 common symptoms attributed to

Lycopodium, comparing good respondents to this

medicine to good respondents to other medicines.

Methods: In order to select which symptoms to be

evaluated, a survey was conducted with 110

homœopaths-47 from Argentina and 63 from other

countries- inquiring on the 10 most important

symptoms they use to prescribe Lycopodium in their

clinical practice. In a second phase of the study, the

presence of selected symptoms was retrospectively

assessed in the clinical records of the first visit of

patients to the Homœopathic Outpatient Clinic of

the Faculty of Medicine of Maimόnides University.

Patients with one only visit, no homœopathic

prescription or more than one prescription, less than

18 or more than 65 years old or acute complaints

were excluded. Only patients with good response

attributable to the homœopathic treatment were

included for analysis. Sensitivity (S) -or prevalence

in Lycopodium responding cases- Likelihood Ratio

(LR) and their 95% Confidence Intervals were

calculated for each symptom.

Results: Twenty-five homœopaths answered the

survey and 35 symptoms were selected for the study,

875 records were assessed -about one fourth of the

archive- and 564 excluded for different reasons. Of

the remaining 311, 76.6% were females and 28.6%

were prescribed Lycopodium. Females were more

frequently prescribed Lycopodium than males

(32.8% vs. 15.1%, P 0.003). Good response was

seen more frequently in Lycopodium cases than in

other medicines cases (75% vs. 62%, P <0.027).

205 good responding cases were included for

symptoms analysis. LR of symptoms’ prevalence

were calculated between Lycopodium (n=67) and

other medicines (n=138) good responding cases.

A group of symptoms emerged as being

important pointers to Lycopodium prescription,

having high sensitivity and higher than 1 statistically

significant LR; anger from (or intolerant of)

contradiction (S 50.7%, LR 2.7), dictatorial (S

40.3%, LR 7.9), lack of self-confidence (S 32.8%,

LR 3.2), irritability on waking (S 20.9%, LR 4.1),

irritability before menses (S 28.2%, LR 3.9),

helplessness (S 20.9%, LR 2.2), haughty (S 10.4%,

LR 4.8), anticipation (S 31.3%, LR 2.1),

conscientious (S 32.8%, LR 1.6), desire of

chocolate (S 22.4%, LR 2.1), desire of sweets (S

46.3%, LR 1.6) and abdominal distention after

eating (S 34.3%, LR 2.2). the symptom

contemptuous had a sensitivity of 7.5%, and it was

only found in Lycopodium cases.

A second group of symptoms had a sensitivity

between 3 and 12% and LR higher than 1, but

statistically non significant: reproaches, egotism,

contrary, critical, fear of failure, suspicious,

constipation alternating with diarrhea, lack of vital

heat and sensitive to clothing in abdomen.

A third group of symptoms had very low

sensitivity (S 1.5); flatterer, hurry, nose obstruction

during night, aversion to onions, past or present

gallstones and sleeps on abdomen.

Two symptoms had good sensitivity but LR

lower than one, though statistically non significant,

probably indicating a contraindication of

Lycopodium: reserved (S 11.9%, LR 0.7) and desire

for open air (S.7.5%, LR 0.4). Finally five

symptoms were not recorded in Lycopodium cases

but in one or two of the other medicines cases:

contemptuous-hard with subordinates and agreeable

to superiors-, past or present renal calculi, fear of

narrow places, easy satiety and worse at 4 pm.

Conclusions:Retrospective asses of symptoms’

sensitivity and LR could have an important place

before performing more accurate prospective

research about the same matter.

11. Highland amphibians and extremely diluted

thyroxine

ENDLER, PC.; PONGRATZ – Scherer,W.

et al.

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

Introduction: After more than two decades of

experimental work on a model with amphibians and

extremely diluted thyroxine, we now can refer to an

independent meta-analysis by B.Harrer from Berlin

on the international replication record of that model.

A detailed account of the difficulties of this line of

research has been published previously. One

experiment found to be reproducible both by

ourselves (i.e. the initial team) and by independent

researchers inquires into the effect of thyroxine

(T30x) (an ultra-high dilution obtained by 30

successive steps of tenfold dilution according to

instructions of Homœopathy) v analogously

prepared water (W 30x) in amphibians from

highland biotopes. The purpose of Harrer’s study

was to replicate this experiment and to perform a

metaanalysis reanalyzing the results reported by the

initial team and by the independent researchers

between 1991 and 2012.

Methods: (A): The experiment was replicated by

Harrer himself. Rana temporaria were taken from

an alpine biotope and were treated with T30x or

W30x from the 2-legged stage on by adding 3 micro

L of probe dilutions per animal to the basin water at

intervals of 48h. Two end-points were considered;

first, entry into the 4-legged stage, and second, tail

reduction. The experiment was performed blind.

(B): A reanalysis was performed of the results

reported by the initial team (based at that time at

Graz University and the Graz Boltzmann Institute)

and the independent researchers including Harrer

himself (R. van Wijk from Utrect University, H.

Lassnig from the Federal Institute of Veterinary

Medical Investigation Graz, C. Zausner-Lukitsch

from Vienna University, G. Bach, at the suggestion

of KIKOM, Bern University, Harrer from

patienteninformation fuer Naturheilkunde Berlin).

Results: (A) As in previous experiments, a clear

trend was found of T30x animals developing more

slowly (i.e. up to 6h within 3 days) than W30x

animals. Due to the small number of animals, the

differences were not statistically significant (p >

0.05). The effect size, however, was large (d > 0.8).

(B) A total of 22 experiments were performed

between 1991 and 2012, 15 by the initial team and 7

by altogether 5 independent researchers. In most of

these experiments (the sole exception being two

performed and reported by ourselves) a trend was

found of T30x-animals being slower than W30x-

animals. The differences in the individual sub-

experiments, each involving 60-100 animals per

group, were mostly not statistically significant (p >

0.05). The pooled results of the initial team and

those of the independent researchers did show

significant differences (p < 0.01 in either case).

Pooled T30x values obtained by the initial team

were 10.1% smaller than W30x values (100%) (p <

0.01 and d > 0.8). Analogously, the number of

animals entering the juvenile stage with reduced tail

was smaller for T30x than for W40x.

Conclusion: A metamorphosis hormone diluted

beyond Avogadro’s limit using a process derived

from Homœopathy produced a clear trend of

metamorphosis inhibition. This was observed by 7

researchers from Austria, Germany, Switzerland

and the Netherlands.

12. Amelioration of pain and distress in tail-ringed

lambs using Homœopathy

DAVID, Eyles (HOM. 103, 1/2014)

Introduction: To reduce the incidence of blowfly

strike in dirty fleece, lowland lambs in England

usually have their tails docked at between 1 and 7

days old. A small and very tight rubber ring is

applied to the tail 35 to 50mm from the base of the

tail, thereby constricting the blood supply. The

distal part of the tail falls off 2 or 3 weeks afterwards.

Whilst it is in the long term welfare interests of the

sheep, this routine operation results in short term

pain and discomfort for between 15 and 30 minutes.

This experiment was conducted to see if

Homœopathy could be used to ameliorate the

discomfort.

Methods: This triple blind controlled trial

randomized 54 Dorset Down lambs into equal

groups of both sexes. The verum group received a

homœopathic complex of Aconite, Arnica and

Hypericum, all at 200c, administered by mouth from

a further diluted preparation in a spray bottle. The

placebo group received an apparently similar

preparation.

The behavior of each lamb was recorded on a

standardized form, every minute for 20 minutes.

Every movement was categorized and counted using

check marks, each time that type of movement

occurred in each minute.

At the end of the study, the recording sheets

were transferred onto a spreadsheet via a scoring

system of 0 to 3, where 0 is “no stress” and 3 is

“maximum stress”. For example, standing, or lying

down with head up would score 0 for “no stress”;

whilst lying down on its side and thrashing four legs

would score 3 for “maximum stress”. Other

categories of movement scored intermediate values.

Results: The spreadsheet for each lamb was scored

for each movement and each minute. The scores for

each minute were then totalled to give a score for the

whole 20 minutes of study, to give the Area Under

the Curve. This is an assessment of the total distress

experienced by each of the lambs under study.

Frequency histograms were plotted for both

groups; mean AUC scores for the verum group were

228.3 and for the placebo group were 320.7; giving

an effect size score of 92.4 (c.i. 66.15 to 118.65; P <

0.001). This amounts to a reduction in distress

(reduced score) of 29% for the verum group.

Mean Distress Scores for each minute were also

plotted for both groups. The peak distress for the

verum lambs occurred about 3 minutes earlier than

the placebo lambs and was 28% lower than the peak

score for the placebo group. At the end of the 20

minute recording period, the final distress scores for

the verum group were about 35% lower than the

placebo group.

Conclusions: A reduction of approximately one

third in total distress was achieved using

homœopathic Aconite, Arnica and Hypericum 200c

and is a practical and cost effective means of

improving animal welfare on the farm.

13. Is homœopathic treatment as an effective

intervention for children with a diagnosis of

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder(ADHD)?

PHILIPPA, Fibert (HOM. 103, 1/2014)

How to demonstrate Homœopathic

effectiveness is an ongoing question. Pragmatic

trials have high external validity, representing

homœopathic treatment as it is practiced in real life,

and may provide a solution. Two studies provide

examples.

A consecutive case series investigated whether

homœopathic treatment is effective for children with

ADHD. Twenty children received adjunctive

homœopathic treatment and were compared with ten

children not receiving homœopathic treatment at

baseline and after 24 weeks, on DSMIV

characteristics (Conner’s Parent Rating Scale –

CPRS) and a self-selected-item scale (Measure Your

Own Medical Outcome Profile – MYMOP).

An analysis of variance (ANOVA) found a

significant interaction between time and the

treatment received. A long term analysis of treated

children after one year found that they continued to

improve, with half the participants registering

improvement in their DSMIV scores of over 10

points. Different methodologies were explored to

ascertain optimum treatment protocols, and CEASE

methodology proved especially effective for these

children. It was found that remedies often needed

repeating to retain effectiveness. This suggested

obstacles to cure. CEASE proved effective at

removing obstacles after which constitutional

remedies needed repeating less often, and their

effectiveness was enhanced. Despite the small

sample size, this study suggests that homœopathic

treatment is an effective intervention for children

with ADHD. However limitations such as lack of

randomization, blinding and unequal sample sizes

mean results have limited generalizability.

A Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Clinical

Trial is being designed to enhance and develop the

findings of the above Case Series and provide more

powerful and robust evidence. The aim of the trial

is to evaluate the comparative clinical and cost

effectiveness of adjunctive treatment provided by

homœopaths for children with a diagnosis of ADHD,

in comparison to standard care alone.

Key elements of the design include the retention

of the totality of homœopathic treatment; a control

group receiving standard care; equal sample sizes of

adequate power; random distribution of groups;

groups representative of the ADHD population;

homœopathic treatment undertaken by several

homœopaths in several locations; evaluation of

clinical and cost effectiveness using appropriate

outcome measurements reflecting the requirements

of stakeholders; and allowance of sufficient trial

time to detect results. These studies into

homœopathic effectiveness for ADHD are the first

pragmatic studies comparing the totality of the

homœopathic intervention with usual care. They

build on the work of Frei (2005) and Lamont (1997)

who demonstrated the effectiveness of

Homœopathic remedies for children with ADHD;

Jacobs (2005) who demonstrated the effectiveness of

remedies and the clinical intervention. A systematic

review recommended studies of Homœopathy as it

is practiced by homœopaths i.e. pragmatic trials.

14. Cutting edge to clinical effectiveness: the

implications of recent theoretical and research

findings in Homœopathy

FISHER, Peter (HOM. 103, 1/2014)

Much recent progress in research in

Homœopathy has been at polar ends of the spectrum:

in theory and basic science and clinical effectiveness

studies. I will review the implications for research

in Homœopathy.

‘Weak quantum theory’ hypotheses for

Homœopathy have been proposed by Walach and

Milgrom. These hypothesise nonlocal action and

‘entanglement’ so that treatment and control groups

in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). These

hypotheses have been criticized for not suggesting

an experimental test. Beauvais has applied a

quantum-like statistical model to RCTs of

Homœopathy. This gives rise to a remarkable

prediction: that the difference between between

placebo and Homœopathy groups vanishes in

centralized blind trials due to ‘smearing’ (effects of

Homœopathy occurring in the placebo group). This

could be overcome by in situ

randomization/unblinding: the observables are

measured and all operations from randomization to

unblinding are performed locally in a defined order,

without central supervision. Similarly Almirantis

notes that if non-local factors are involved, there will

be resistance to reproducibility, so effect sizes will

be larger if control treatments were randomly

selected homœopathic medicines, rather than blank,

since this introduces uncertainty. These theories are

testable and have important practical implications if

verified.

Recent empirical findings in basic science

include evidence on the role of nanoparticles of

original substances, silica and gas. Bell’s NPCAS

model hypothesizes that homœopathic medicines

consist of nanoparticles, low level stressors cross-

adapted to allostatic overload (allostasis is the

physiological process of restoring homœostasis,

allostatic overload occurs when these mechanisms

are overwhelmed). Implications for research include

that outcomes should be multivariate and measured

over time. These predictions are congruent with

those made by nonlocal theories.

Nonlocal theories have not been tested, let alone

verified. There are alternative explanations for the

alleged lack of positive findings in RCTs of

Homœopathy. These include that there is nothing to

explain. The results of meta-analyses are disputed

and, as Mathie et al.’s recent bibliometric study

showed, the literature has not been adequately

searched: 30 eligible RCTs not listed by previous

meta-analyses were found. Another possible

explanation for false-negative results is the quality

of Homœopathy. Mathie has led the development

of a method to evaluate the model validity of

Homœopathy in clinical trials.

There is a growing number of veterinary

RCTs and animal experiments of relatively simple

design with positive results. These include

replication of the effects of highly dilute thyroxine

on amphibian metamorphosis, nosodes for

diarrhea in piglets and an Homœopathic complex

in fish farming. These seem not to be in line with

nonlocal hypotheses.

EPI-3 is a large scale comparative

effectiveness study comparing GPs using

Homœopathy, mixed practice and conventional

medicine in France. Upper respiratory tract

infections, sleep disorders, anxiety and depression

and musculoskeletal disorders were studied in

terms of clinical benefit, medical care and

medication consumption, adverse effects and loss

of therapeutic opportunity. Patients seeking

treatment from homœopathic GPs were similar to

those attending conventional physicians.

Homœopathy had advantages in at least one

domain for each disease category.

15. Bridging the gap between the homœopathic

world and the conservative medical world – test

case in rats

FREED, Yakov and ZUBEDAT, Salman et al.

(HOM. 103, 1/2014)

Sleep is an essential physiological process that

underlies crucial cognitive functions as well as

emotional reactivity. Thus, Sleep Deprivation (SD)

may exert various deleterious effect.

In this study, we aimed to examine the adverse

behavioral and hormonal effects of SD and a

potential treatment with Cocculus indicus 30c (cocc.

30C) – a homœopathic remedy.

SD was induced by using the Multiple Platform

Method for 48 hours. The effects of SD were

evaluated behaviorally (Pre-pulse inhibition, startle

response, plus-maze and rotor-rod) at baseline as

well as at 6, 12, 24 hours, and 14 days post

deprivation. Cocc 30c treatment was administrated

Per Os every three hours starting immediately after

baseline tests and for a period of 24 hours. On day

14, blood samples were taken and serum levels of

corticosterone, testosterone, serotonin and leptin

were tested. We found that Cocc 30c improved Pre-

pulse inhibition 12 and 24 hours post deprivation.

Likewise, Cocc 30C improved motor learning

independently from locomotor activity. On day 14

though no behavioral effects were observed, SD led

to increased levels of corticosterone and serotonin

while decreasing testosterone and leptin.

Interestingly, Cocc 30C treatment has moderated

these hormonal alterations. We conclude that the

treatment with Cocc 30c recovers both short-term

behavioral and the long-term hormonal modulations

following SD.

16. Harnessing the un-mined data rich resources of

homœopathic provings: an overview of

replicated provings, creating a common

language and a method forward.

GRAY, Alastair (HOM. 103, 1/2014)

Generally conducted by Homœopathy

practitioners and advocates rather than scientists, the

emphasis of provings has always focused on

determining accurate symptom profiles. These are

then applied homœopathically in clinical practice –

according to the Law of Similars. But significant

questions arise as to their quality, and the

inconsistencies in approach and method remains at

issue for 19th, 20th and 21st century provings. For the

vast majority of these experiments the fundamental

hypothesis has been, ‘what symptoms and conditions

might this substance be useful for’? but what about

re-provings? Comparative evaluation of the data

extracted from old and modern provings can reveal

significant similarities. This paper explores a model

of comparing subjective symptoms from provings

which if robust enough challenges the idea that

homœopathic responses