Experimental physical methods and theories – then and now

Introduction: A first evaluation of fundamental research into the physics and physiology of Ultra high dilutions (UHDs) was conducted by the author in 1994¹. In this paper we revisit methods and theories from back then and follow their paths through their evolution and contribution to new knowledge in UHD research since then.

Method: Physical methods and theories discusses in our anthology on UHD in 1994¹ form the basis for tracing ideas and findings along their path of further development and impact on new knowledge in UHD.

Results: Experimental approaches to probe physical changes in homeopathic preparations have become more sophisticated over past two decades, so did the desire to report results to a scientific standard that is on par with those in specialist literature. The same cannot be said about underlying supporting theoretical models and simulations.

Conclusion: Grant challenges in science often take a more targeted and more concerted approach to formulate a research question and then look for answers. A concerted effort to focus on one hypothesized physical aspect of a well-defined homeopathic preparation may help aligning experimental methods with theoretical models and, in doing so, help to gain a deeper understanding of the whole body of insights and data produced.

Keywords

Experimental methods - Fundamental research - UHD

• References

• 1 Endler P.C., Schulte J. Ultra High Dilution—Physiology and Physics. Dordrecht: Kluwer.; 1994.
• 2 Schulte J., Endler P.C. Outline of experimental physical methods to investigate specific structures of ultra high diluted solvents. In: Endler P.C., Schulte J. (eds). Ultra High Dilution—Physiology and Physics. 1994. Dordrecht: Kluwer; pp 99-104.
• 3 Becker-Witt C., Weisshuhn T., Luedtke R., Willich S. Quality assessment of physical research in homeopathy. J Altern Complement Med 2003; 9 (01) 113-132.
• 4 Bonet-Maury P., Deysine A., Vogeli L.-M. Recherche sur etude des dilutions homéopathiques par les radio-isotopes. Ann Pharmac Franc 1954; 12: 654-663.
• 5 Boiron J., Cier A., Vingert C. Effets de quelques facteurs physiques sur l’activité pharmacologique de dilutions infinitésimales. Ann Hom Franc 1968; 10: 187-196.
• 6 Buck U., Huisken F. Chem Rev 2000; 100: 3863.
• 7 Buch V., Baurecker S., Devlin J.P., Buck U., Kazimirski J.K. Int Rev Phys Chem 2004; 23: 375.
• 8 Pradzynski Christoph C, Forck Richard M, Zeuch Thomas, Petr Slavíček, Udo Buck, Science 337.
• 9 Sukul N.C., Ghosh S., Sukul A., Sinhababu S.P. Variation in Fourier transform infrared spectra of some homeopathic potencies and their diluent media. J Alt Comp Med 2005; 11 (05) 807-812.
• 10 Auerbach D. Mass, fluid and wave motion during the preparation of ultra high dilutions. In: Endler P.C., Schulte J. (eds). Ultra High Dilution—Physiology and Physics. 1994. Dordrecht: Kluwer; pp 129-135.
• 11 Verma S., Gokhale R., Burgess D.J. A comparative study of top-down and bottom-up approaches for the preparation of micro/nanosuspensions. Int J Pharm 2009; 380 1–2 216-222 Liu G, Zhang D, Jiao Y, Zheng D, Liu.
• 12 Chikramane P.S., Suresh A.K., Bellare J.R., Kane S.G. Extreme homeopathic dilutions retain starting materials: a nanoparticulate perspective. Homeopathy 2010; 99: 231-242.
• 13 Ruan B., Jacobi M. Ultrasonication effects on thermal and rheological properties of carbon nanotube suspensions. Nanoscale Res Lett 2012; 7 (01) 127.
• 14 Jia L., Zhang Q., Lou H. Comparison of different methods for preparation of a stable riccardin D formulation via nano-technology. Int J Pharm 2012; 422 1–2 516-522.
• 15 Sedlak M., Dmytro Rak D. Large-scale inhomogeneities in solutions of low molar mass compounds and mixtures of liquids: supramolecular structures or nanobubbles?. J Phys Chem B 2013; 117: 2495-2504.
• 16 Bell I.R., Sarter B., Standish L.J., Banerji P., Banerji P. Low doses of traditional nanophytomedicines for clinical treatment: manufacturing processes and nonlinear response patterns. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 2015; 15 (06) 4021-4038.
• 17 Demangeat J.-L. NMR water proton relaxation in unheated and heated ultrahigh aqueous dilutions of histamine: evidence for an air-dependent supramolecular organization of water. J Mol Liq 2009; 144: 32-39.
• 18 Anagnostatos G.S. Small water clusters (clathrates) in the homoeopathic preparation process. In: Endler P.C., Schulte J. (eds). Ultra High Dilution—Physiology and Physics. 1994. Dordrecht: Kluwer; pp 121-128.
• 19 Schulte J. Conservation of structures in aqueous ultra high dilutions. In: Endler P.C., Schulte J. (eds). Ultra High Dilution—Physiology and Physics. 1994. Dordrecht: Kluwer; pp 105-115.
• 20 Czerlinksi G., Ypma T. Domains of water molecules provide mechanisms of potentization in homeopathy. Water 2010; 2: 1-13.
• 21 Bellavite P., Marzotto M., Olioso D., Moratti E., Conforti A. High-dilution effects revisited. 2. Pharmacodynamic mechanisms. Homeopathy 2014; 103: 22-43.
• 22 Berezin G.S. Ultra high dilution effect and isotopic self-organization. In: Endler P.C., Schulte J. (eds). Ultra High Dilution—Physiology and Physics. 1994. Dordrecht: Kluwer; pp 121-128.
• 23 Weingärtner O. NMR-Spektren von Sulfur-Potenzen. Therapeutikon 3: 438.
• 24 Luu D.V. Etude des dilutions homeopathiques per spectrocopie Raman laser. Lab Boiron.; 1976.
• 25 Rousset J.L., Duval E., Boukenter A. J Chem Phys 1990; 92: 2150-2154.
• 26 Walrafen G.E. J Chem Phys 1964; 40: 3249-3256.
• 27 Walrafen G.E. J Chem Phys 1967; 47: 114-126.
• 28 Krishnamurthy S., Bansil R., Wiafe-Akenten J. J Chem Phys 1983; 79: 5863-5870.
• 29 Mizoguchi K., Hori Y., Tominaga Y. J Chem Phys 1992; 97: 1961-1968.
• 30 Miura N., Yamada H., Moon A. Intermolecular vibrational study in liquid water and ice by using far infrared spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation of MIRRORCLE 20. Spectrochim Acta Part A 2010; 77: 1048-1053.
• 31 Young T.M. J Am Inst Hom 1975; 68: 8-16.
• 32 Demangeat J.L., Demangeat C., Gries P., Pointevin B., Constantinesco N. Modifications des temps de relaxation RMN á 4 MHz des protons du solvent dans les trè s hautes dilutions salines des slice/lactose. J Med Nucl Biophy 1992; 16 (02) 135-145.
• 33 Sukul A., Sarkar P., Sinhababu S.P., Sukul N.C. Altered solution structure of alcoholic medium of potentized Nux vomica underlies its antialcoholic effect. Br Homeopath J 2000; 89: 73-77.
• 34 Sukul N.C., Ghosh S., Sinhababu S.P., Sukul A. Strychnos nux-vomica extract and its ultra-high dilution reduce voluntary ethanol intake in rats. J Altern Complement Med 2001; 7: 187-193.
• 35 Aabel S., Fossheim S., Rise F. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of homeopathic solutions. Br Homeopath J 2001; 90: 14-20.
• 36 Anick D.J. High sensitivity 1H-NMR spectroscopy of homeopathic remedies made in water. BMC Complement Altern Med 2004; 4: 15.
• 37 Baumgartner S., Martin M., Skrabal P. et al. High-field ¹H T₁ and T₂ NMR relaxation time measurements of H₂O in homeopathic preparations of quartz, sulfur, and copper sulfate. Naturwissenschaften 2009; 96: 1079-1089.
• 38 Demangeat J.L. Nanosized solvent superstructures in ultramolecular aqueous dilutions: twenty years’ research using water proton NMR relaxation. Homeopathy 2013; 102: 87-105.
• 39 Del Giudice E., Preparata G., Vitiello G. Water as a free electric dipole laser. Phys Rev Lett 1988; 61 (09) 1085-1088.
• 40 Del Giudice E. Is the “memory of water” a physical impossibility?. In: Endler P.C., Schulte J. (eds). Ultra High Dilution—Physiology and Physics. 1994. Dordrecht: Kluwer; pp 117-120.
• 41 Popp F.A. Some biophysical elements of homeopathy. In: Endler P.C., Schulte J. (eds). Ultra High Dilution—Physiology and Physics. 1994. Dordrecht: Kluwer; pp 177-186.
• 42 Weingärtner O. The nature of the active ingredient in ultramolecular dilutions. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 220-226.