Basic Science

The facts are indisputable, statistically significant and reproducable, even if they cannot be explained by the molecular paradigm. *

A water dropLab experiments using samples of cells, tissues or molecules are ‘basic science’ or ‘in vitro’ research.  This method has contributed much to the homeopathy evidence base. It’s demonstrated that the biological effects of ultrahigh dilutions (UHDs), as used in homeopathic remedies, can be seen clearly under experimental conditions.

Scientists refer to these dilutions as ‘beyond Avogadro’s number’, meaning they’ve been diluted beyond 10:23, which is the final concentration at which molecules of the original substance are still present.  Homeopathic remedies of 12c strength and above are in this ultramolecular range.  75% of in vitro experiments have found that such dilutions have specific effects *.  It’s expected once the properties of UHDs are better understood, experiments will be refined to pick up these effects every time.

Although the sceptics insist homeopathic products are ‘just water’, many different independent research laboratories have confirmed otherwise.  Through the results of their experiments it’s known there are physical differences between samples prepared homeopathically and control samples like plain water.  The differences can be measured using scientific techniques such as:

  • Calorimetry – to measure the amount of heat given off by a sample *;
  • Spectroscopy – to measure how a substance absorbs, emits or scatters electromagnetic radiation *;
  • Thermoluminescence – to measure the amount of light produced by a sample when heated (due to the release of stored energy) *.

Basic scientific experiments involving the homeopathic processes of serial dilution and succussion give good results.   Researchers believe the vigorous agitation of the succussion process is essential to create biologically effective samples.  These samples show specific physical properties, despite the fact it’s not at the molecular level.

Experiment

laboratory glass

An example of UHDs demonstrating a biological effect can be seen in the ability of ultrahigh dilutions of histamine to alter the activity of white blood cells *. Released into the body, non-diluted histamine alters the activity of the white blood cells known as basophils, which are involved in allergic reactions.

Research involving four different European labs found that when ultrahigh dilutions of histamine were added to isolated basophils a similar effect was experienced.

These results were confirmed by all the labs involved, with three different experiments demonstrating the same effect.  And of course there’s more credibility when results have been verified and reproduced by several separate research laboratories.