Animal models of homeopathic treatment

This issue of the Journal contains a remarkable range of clinical studies of homeopathy involving animal models, both therapeutic and experimental. Several of the results, if confirmed, have important clinical implications.

Two of our papers involve the effects of homeopathic Hypericum perforatum on recovery from surgically induced experimental trauma in rats. Mohammadi and colleagues, in a high quality experiment, compare the rate of healing of transected sciatic nerves in rats. The nerve ends were inserted in a silicone tube and the animals treated orally with Hypericum 30c or succussed control, showing marked functional and histological benefit in the Hypericum treated group, compared to control.[ ¹ ] If these results are confirmed the clinical implications are obvious. Castro et al treated surgical skin wounds in rats with gels containing Arnica and Hypericum in low potency. Microcurrent improved the rate of wound healing, and there was a non-statistically significant trend to greater improvement when it was combined with Arnica or Hypericum gel.[ ² ]

• References

• 1 Mohammadi R., Amini K., Charehsaz S. Homeopathic treatment for peripheral nerve regeneration: an experimental study in a rat sciatic nerve transection model. Homeopathy 2012; 101: 141-146.
• 2 Castro F., Magre A., Cherpinski R. et al. Effects of microcurrent application alone or in combination with topical Hypericum perforatum L. and Arnica montana L. on surgically induced wound healing in Wistar rats. Homeopathy 2012; 101: 147-153.
• 3 Valentim-Zabott M., Vargas L., Ribeiro R.P.R, Piau Jr. R.. Effects of a homeopathic complex in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) on performance, sexual proportion and histology. Homeopathy 2008; 97: 190-195.
• 4 Piau Jr. R., Vargas L., Valentim-Zabott M. et al. Morphometry of white muscle fibers and performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings treated with methyltestosterone or a homeopathic complex. Homeopathy 2012; 101: 154-158.
• 5 Camerlink I., Ellinger L., Bakker E.J., Lantinga E.A. Homeopathy as replacement to antibiotics in the case of Escherichia coli diarrhoea in neonatal piglets. Homeopathy 2010; 99: 57-62.
• 6 Lotfollahzadeh S., Alizadeh M.R., Mohri M., Dezfoulia M.R.M. The therapeutic effect of Tarentula cubensis extract (Theranekron^®) in foot and mouth disease in cattle: a randomized trial in an endemic setting. Homeopathy 2012; 101: 159-164.
• 7 Patil C.R., Patil K.R., Jadhav R.B., Patel D.R. Toxicodendron pubescence retains its anti-arthritic efficacy at 1M, 10M and CM homeopathic dilutions. Homeopathy 2012; 101: 165-170.
• 8 Santos A., Perazzo F., Cardoso L., Carvalho J. In vivo study of the anti-inflammatory effect of Rhus toxicodendron . Homeopathy 2007; 96: 95-101.
• 9 Raghuraman L.P., Nirmal R., Duraisamy V., Narayanan M., Ramesh P. Anxiolytic effect of homeopathic preparation of Pulsatilla nigricans in Swiss albino mice. Homeopathy 2012; 101: 171-174.
• 10 Bellavite P., Magnani P., Marzotto M., Conforti A. Assays of homeopathic remedies in rodent behavioural and psychopathological models. Homeopathy 2009; 98: 208-227.
• 11 Løhre A., Rise M.B., Steinsbekk A. Characteristics of visitors to practitioners of homeopathy in a large adult Norwegian population (The HUNT 3 study). Homeopathy 2012; 101: 175-181.