Biological models of homeopathy

This special issue of Homeopathy focuses on biological models of homeopathy, ranging from whole animal behavioural, intoxication and inflammation models through diseased and healthy plant models, isolated cell and cell culture methods to enzyme models. We exclude clinical trials in veterinary and animal husbandry and similarly horticultural and agricultural field trials. Several leading international experts in the field: Dr Stephan Baumgartner of the University of Berne, Switzerland, Prof Paolo Bellavite of the University of Verona, Italy, Prof Leoni Bonamin of Paulista University, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Dr Christian Endler of Interuniversity College for Health and Development Graz, Austria and Dr Robert Mathie of the Faculty of Homeopathy, UK have kindly agreed to act as Guest Editors and peer reviewers.

The range of endeavour in this field is greater than we anticipated when we planned the issue. This, combined with the eruption of other urgent issues such as the novel H1N1 influenza flu pandemic, means that some of the material will appear in our next issue. Most contributions are reviews, but some include or focus on original experimental results.

The controversial aspect of homeopathy is its issue of very high dilutions, variously referred to as ‘ultramolecular’ or ultra low dilutions (ULD), or BRAN (Beyond the Reciprocal of Avogadro's Number), and most of our papers concentrate on research aimed at investigating whether biological effects attributable to such dilutions occur. However, it is important to remember that the primary idea of homeopathy is not the use of very high dilutions but the principle of similitude, and there has been relatively little research on this.

However, Fred Wiegant's the team at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands has conducted a research program on similarity, rather than ultramolecular dilution effects, which will appear in the second part of this special issue.

• References

• 1 Clausen J., van Wijk R., Albrecht H. The rat in basic therapeutic research in homeopathy. Homeopathy 2009; 98: 280-286.
• 2 Khuda-Bukhsh A.R. Mice as a model for homeopathy research. Homeopathy 2009; 98: 267-279.
• 3 Bellavite P., Magnani P., Marzotto M., Conforti A. Assays of homeopathic remedies in rodent behavioural and psychopathological models. Homeopathy 2009; 98: 208-227.
• 4 Bonamin L., Endler P.C. Animal models for studying homeopathy and high dilutions: conceptual critical review. Homeopathy 2009; 98: xx
• 5 Majewsky V., Heuwieser W., Shah-Rossi D. et al. Use of homeopathic preparations in experimental studies with healthy plants. Homeopathy 2009; 98: 228-243.
• 6 Betti L., Trebbi T., Majewsky V. et al. Use of homeopathic preparations in phytopathological models and in field trials: a critical review. Homeopathy 2009; 98: 244-266.
• 7 Lahnstein L., Binder M., Thurneysen A. et al. Isopathic treatment effects of Arsenicum album 45x on wheat seedling growth – further reproduction trials. Homeopathy 2009; 98: 198-207.
• 8 Sainte Laudy J., Belon P. Inhibition of basophil activation by histamine: A sensitive and reproducible model for study of biological activity of high dilutions. Homeopathy 2009; 98: 186-197.
• 9 Elia V., Elia L., Marchettini N., Napoli E., Niccoli M., Tiezzi E. Physico-chemical properties of aqueous extremely diluted solutions in relation to ageing. J Therm Anal Calorim 2008; 93: 1003-1011.
• 10 Elia V., Napoli E., Niccoli M., Marchettini N., Tiezzi E. New physico-chemical properties of extremely diluted solutions. A conductivity study in relation to ageing. J Solution Chem 2008; 37: 85-96.
• 11 Anick D.J., Ives J.A. The silica hypothesis for homeopathy: physical chemistry. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 189-195.
• 12 Stock-Schröer B., Albrecht H., Betti L. et al. Reporting experiments in homeopathic basic research (REHBaR) – a detailed Guideline for Authors. Homeopathy 2009; 98: 287-298.
• 13 Rutten A.L.B. How can we change beliefs?. Homeopathy 2008; 97: 214-219.