1. Homeopathy: Something from “Nothing”?
Lynn S. Peck, DVM, M.S.
Gainesville, Florida

2. Things You Already Know

3. Things You Already Know
The existence of one type (of system) does not eliminate the possibility of the existence of another type (of system)
Cell signalling
Physico-chemical (chemical bonds)
Electromagnetic (wavelength; frequency)
Quantum???

4. Vibration/Oscillation and Cell Function
“Cells and intracellular elements are capable of vibrating in a dynamic manner with complex harmonics, the frequencies of which can now be measured.” Pienta, KJ and Coffey, DS. Med Hypoth (1991) 34, 88-95
“These vibrations can be altered by growth factors and … carcinogenesis.”
Vibration/oscillation required for function:
O2 transport in/out of myoglobin
Cell membrane phospholipids for protein folding
Protein structural enzyme active sites
Ca2+ ion oscillation at Purkinje cell membranes causes heartbeat rhythm

5. DNA: G-C base pairs 3.3 x 10 –12 sec A-T base pairs 2.8 x 10 –12 sec
Cellular Vibration
DNA: G-C base pairs 3.3 x 10 –12 sec
A-T base pairs 2.8 x 10 –12 sec
Strand 5 x 10 –11 sec
Protein vibration –12 to 1 sec
Ion Flux to 100 sec
From Pienta, KJ and Coffey, DS. Med Hypoth (1991) 34, 88-95

6. Fourier Analysis of Motility of 2 Fibroblast Cells
Pienta, KJ and Coffey, DS. Med Hypoth (1991) 34, 88-95

7. Cell Signalling Popp (1976) Biophoton emissions from DNA
Coherent light (in phase = highly ordered)
Different frequencies stimulate different cell functions and different molecules
Photon emissions
Humans: nm
Plants and simple animals: 100 photons/cm2/sec
Repeating pattern cycles at 7, 14, 32, 80, 270 days

8. Cell Signalling Photon emissions, disease, and health
Popp (1976) Biophoton emissions from DNA
Photon emissions, disease, and health
Cancer patients= loss of coherence, rhythms
Multiple Sclerosis = too highly ordered
Stress = increased biophoton emissions
Health = lowest number of emissions
Plant extracts change cancer cell biophoton emissions?
Mistletoe

9. Water

10. Water A liquid crystal with a pliable lattice matrix
Many unique properties
2 gases = liquid at normal temperatures
Expands as it freezes; less dense

11. Water and Dilution
HCl or NaOH added to highly dilute solutions* of themselves resulted in a (2 to 40 x) greater heat of dilution than when added to water alone
Persisted for weeks Elia and Niccoli, 1999, Ann NY Acad Sci 879:
Adding water to an aqueous solution of NaCl, DNA, cyclodextrin, or other substances caused molecules to form insoluble aggregates (“buckyballs”) 5 to 10 x larger than those in original solution Geckler and Samal, 2001
The more dilute the original solution, the larger the aggregates (laser scattering and SEM)
* 10-1 – 10 –12 (1 to 12 CH)

12. Water: Organizational Properties
Coherent domains around charged molecules.
Shaking/agitation speeds up this process? Preparata G and Del Guidice E
Appears to conduct and amplify a molecule’s signature frequency Benveniste, J
Organizes to form pattern imprinted with wave information?
Stores and carries [a] frequency so it can be read at a distance?
May have role in organizing discordant energy into coherent photons

13. Jacque Benveniste’s Studies
M.D., Allergist, Director of Research: French NIH
Discoverer of Platelet Activating Factor
Basophils and anti-IgE antibodies
Anti-IgE inhibits basophil absorption of dye
Serial dilutions of anti-IgE to 1 part in 1060, still inhibited dye absorption
Replicated in 5 labs, 4 countries, 13 scientists, 4 yrs, >300 trials (Nature, 1988)
Replicated by challengers in 3 of 4 labs in 4 countries Inflamm Res, 1996, Suppl 1: S33-4
“The results compel me to suspend my disbelief and to start searching for rational explanations for our findings”- M Ennis

14. Basophil Degranulation After Exposure to Anti-Ig E (log dilutions)
Benveniste:
Basophil Degranulation
After Exposure to
Anti-Ig E (log dilutions)
Nature, (6176) 816-8
1:10 series
1:100 series

15. Jacque Benveniste’s Studies
“…specific information must have been transmitted during the dilution/shaking process. Water could act as a template for the molecule, for example, by an infinite hydrogen bonded network, or electric and magnetic fields…The precise nature of this phenomenon remains unexplained.”

16. Jacque Benveniste’s Studies
“That water transfers specific molecular signals is difficult to accept. However, this may in fact mimic the basic role of water dipoles associated with all biological molecules at a 15,000 to 1 ratio.
Once coherently organized like a “laser” by interaction with molecule charges, water would transmit oscillating electromagnetic fields (or any oscillating field) which may be the driving force of molecule-to-molecule signaling.”

17. Jacque Benveniste’s Studies
“Digital Biology”
Biochemical reactions based on resonance propagation between molecules vibrating at the same frequency (< 20 Hz) creating a “cascade” of electromagnetic impulses traveling at the speed of light

18. Jacque Benveniste’s Studies
“Digital Biology” 1991 to 2004 (digibio.com)
Could record molecular activity on multimedia computer and replay it to a biological system with results similar to giving the physical substance itself:
Basophil and neutrophil activation, skin testing, oxygen activity, coagulation FASEB 1995, 1996, 1999
Could send as attachment and alter coronary blood flow in an isolated perfused guinea pig heart
“Identical to effects produced on the heart by the actual substances themselves”

19. Coagulation Studies

20. Benveniste: Summary
Water (not ethanol, DMSO) required for signal transmission
Agitation important
Heating or freezing/thawing suppressed activity
Dilute solutions were ALL suppressed at degrees C
Whole molecules reacted to heat acc. to indiv. Sensitivity
“…suggests a common mechanism operating at high dilution, independent of the…starting molecule.

21. Electromagnetic Radiation

22. Music

23. Words

24. Photograph

25. Samuel Hahnemann, Physician and Chemist Developer of Homeopathy 1755-1843

27. Homeopathy in Epidemics: Mortality
Disease
N each
Conv’l
HP tx
Typhus Germany
180*
30 %
<2 %*
Cholera Europe
~2000
56 %
10 %
Yellow Fever U.S.
~5,000
44 %
5 %
Diphtheria U.S.
600/400
17 %
6 %
Influenza U.S. (Ohio)
25,000
28 %
1 %
From The Logic of Figures, T.L. Bradford, M.D., 1900 and other sources

28. Homeopathy Is… Scientific medicine
A 200 year old system of medicine widely used in England, Germany, France and India today
Scientific medicine
200 years’ clinical observations in humans
Based on “drug trials” (provings) and clinical results
Pioneered use of placebo controls (1880’s) and single blinding (1890’s)
Standardized testing procedures

29. Widely used in England, Germany, France and India today
Homeopathy Is…
Widely used in England, Germany, France and India today
Based on symptoms, not diagnosis
Holistic:
Treats physical, mental and emotional states
Energy-based (Vitalistic):
Vital Force: ~ Qi, Innate Intelligence

30. A complete, separate system of medicine:
Homeopathy Is…
A complete, separate system of medicine:
Language
Preparation of medicines
Principles for prescribing
Understanding of health, disease, and healing

31. Homeopathy Is Not…
A long word for herbal, natural, alternative, complementary, or holistic medicine!

32. Homeopathy in the United States
1825 – 1st homeopathic physician: Gram
1835 – 1st school of HP: Allentown, PA
1844 – 1st national medical society – AIH
1846 – 1st U.S.- published veterinary HP book
1860 – Humphrey’s Manual of Veterinary Specific Homeopathy published
Used by zoos, Ringling Bros, U.S. Cavalry till 1920s
1865 –Life Insurance companies in N.Y., London reduced rates to patients of HP – lower mortality 1869 – AIH admitted female physicians
1870 – Washington HP Medical Society opened membership w/o regard to race

33. Homeopathy in the United States
1870 – Handbook of Therapeutics 1st ed.
By Sidney “Lactated” Ringer, London
“The best treatise on therapeutics we possess” 13 U.S. editions
– used HP rx: Ipecac, camphor, aconite
> 1000 U.S. druggists buying HP remedies Domestic “kits” – many used by women for families and townspeople when no M.D.
1892 – 110 hospitals, 62 orphan/elderly asylums, 30 nursing homes, 16 insane asylums
1910 – 22 HP medical schools; 1 in 4-5 MDs use HP
WWI – U.S. Army: 1,862 HP physicians as commissioned officers, and > 1,500 nurses in U.S. military hospitals overseas and at home

34. Prominent People who used HP
John D. Rockefeller
William Seward
Pres. James Garfield
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Louisa May Alcott
Samuel B. Morse
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Harriet Beecher Stowe

35. “Frozen” Jaw after trauma
1 ½ yr F Golden Retriever
3/99: Lacerated tonsil while chewing stick.
Tx: Amoxi.
4/99: Fibrosis: jaw opens < 3 inches
Anesthesia: jaw forced open. Prednisone (8mos)
12/99: 8 mos’ treatment: jaw opens ½ inch. No pain or swelling in or around mouth.
Began homeopathic treatment.
Rads normal.
Blood chem. normal/WBC 17,000 (neutr)

36. “Frozen” Jaw after trauma
Minimal response to 2 different remedies given between Dec 99 and Jan 21 ’00 (single dose)
3rd remedy (3 single doses: 2 wks, 10 wks apart)
After 3 mos, back in field trials (neck retrieve)
After 6 mos, whole body retrieve;
Jr. hunter certificate;
1st place in conformation.

37. Equine Chronic Lameness
Horse, 6 month chronic RF lameness, no response to abx, NSAIDs, poultices.
Given 1 dose of Silicea
Became extremely lame; abscess opened
Splinter of painted wood from tack trunk
Sound afterwards

38. Rejecting Puppies 7 yr female Beagle mix 3 previous litters of puppies
Each litter: progressively worse mothering
Allowed nursing; not aggressive
Would walk away if pups crawled on her
4th litter: refused to nurse; milk started drying up. Taken to clinic (day 3-4 postpartum)
Tx: Sepia 30C
Within 30 minutes started licking, nursing, mothering pups. Good mother from then on.

39. Stillbirths in Pigs Herd Problem: 130 sows, 20% stillbirths
Caulophyllum 30C PO; 2/wk for  3 wks before farrowing
Herd treatment: % Stillbirths Previous % 6 mos. Caulophyllum % 2 mos. untreated % 2 mos. Caulophyllum %
No. of stillbirths: p=0.018
C. E. I. Day, Vet Record March 3, 1984

40. Rediscovery: Law of Similars
Why is quinine effective against malaria?
Hahnemann took Cinchona bark extract (source of quinine used for treating malaria)
It produced symptoms similar to those of malaria
weakness, bone pain, intermittent fever
Symptoms went away when stopped administration
Repeatable over many trials/many people
Synthetic methloquine has similar effects (PDR)

41. I. Law of Similars: “Like Cures Like”
A medicine which produces certain symptoms in a healthy person can cure a sick person having similar symptoms.
Homeopathy:
Homeo = similar; pathos = disease, suffering

42. Symptoms Changes from healthy state Mental/emotional states; cravings
Physical functions
Sensations
Location Time/Season
Character
Cause
Modality: better/worse
“Strange, rare, or peculiar”

43. Symptoms of Disease: Animal History Intake
Diarrhea: Yellow liquid at 7 am, or brown liquid stools w/ gas in pm?
Thirst and appetite: Small amts frequently; or large amts infrequently?
Mentals: Isolates/seeks company?
Preferences: Sunny spot or near a/c vent? Warm or cold water?
Modalities: What makes it better/worse?

44. Match patient’s symptoms with most similar remedy? ? ?

45. II. Law of Provings
Conventional: Test in animals and then give to sick patient
HP: Only by giving a single remedy at a time to a healthy person and observing its effects (symptoms) is the action of the remedy known.

46. Remedies still studied using experimentation and observation in humans
Homeopathic Provings
Remedies still studied using experimentation and observation in humans
Controlled experiment: “proving”
Remedy or placebo to (blinded) healthy subjects
All symptoms recorded
Common and uncommon symptoms ID’d
Compiled into Materia Medica
Graded by clinical reliability

47. Clinical Studies of Provings
2 blinded, placebo-controlled studies involving giving a total of 3 different HP remedies to healthy people and evaluating symptoms:
1) 2004: n=21 2 rx, 1 placebo; more symptoms with remedies than placebo Forsch Komplem Klass Natur 11(5)
2) 2004: n=11 1 rx, 1 placebo; more symptoms (p<0.02) with rx than placebo Homeopathy 93(4)

48. Medicinal symptoms (provings) Symptoms of disease
Resulting from administered medicine (remedy)
Symptoms of disease
What patient experiences in unhealthy state

49. Medicinal Symptoms or Side Effects?
Conventional:
Single drug can affect many organ systems
Side effect
Adverse reaction
Main effect
Secondary effect

51. Viagra
Originally a blood pressure medication (hypertension)
Marketable “side effect” now the “main effect”
Vet med: treatment for pulmonary hypertension in dogs

52. Medicinal Symptoms or Side Effects?
Ritalin®
Mind: Nervousness, insomnia, drowsiness, dizziness, transient depression
Head: Headache, scalp hair loss
Heart: Arrhythmias, tachycardia, pulse, BP
Stomach: Nausea, anorexia
Skin: Rash, urticaria, exfoliative dermatitis
Extremities: Joint pain
Generals: Wt. loss.
Worse: Afternoon and evening

53. Medicinal Symptoms or Side Effects?
Homeopathy:
Single remedy can affect many organ systems
Urinary
Eyes
Resp.
Effects or
Symptoms
Skin

54. III. Law of the Single Remedy
Every medicine can create symptoms.
Multiple medicines create…confusion!
Classical homeopathy: one remedy at a time.

55. Combos: “effective” for many conditions
Combination Remedies
Combos: “effective” for many conditions
Improvement may stall/be temporary
No provings of combinations
Change symptom picture?

56. Homeopathic Remedies

57. Homeopathic Remedies
Included in Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938
Licensed homeopathic pharmacies
Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS)
Over 2,000 remedies proven

58. Homeopathic Remedies Plant, animal, or mineral derived
Rhus tox, Sepia, Silicea
Poisons, venom, etc most powerful medicinal effects
Unique method gives unique properties
Tincture
serial dilution/succussion
spray onto milk sugar pill base

59. Serial dilution… “Mother tincture” 1 2 1 in 10 1 in 10 (X) (X)
(C) (C)
1 in in
(M) (M) 1 2
Extract in ethanol and water

60. Letter (Roman Numeral): X, C, M = size of dilution step
Serial dilution…
Letter (Roman Numeral): X, C, M
= size of dilution step
Number: 1, 3, 6, 10, 30, 200, etc
= number of dilutions in the series
Potency: 6X, 6C, 30C, 200C, 1M, etc

61. C = 100 1 in 100 dilution 10-2 6X #6 1 in 10 dilutions 10-6
Serial dilution…
X = 10 1 in 10 dilution 10-1
C = in 100 dilution 10-2
6X # in 10 dilutions 10-6
6C # in 100 dilutions 10-12
Penicillin: 1 in 100,000,000 BMJ 1943(ii)654
Acetylcholine: 1mg/2,000,000 L
Science, 72 (1930); 526

62. Serial dilution…
12C # in 100 dilutions
30C # in 100 dilutions
200C # in 100 dilutions
Avogadro’s number ~ ( x 1023)

63. Serial dilution and Succussion
100

64. For each dilution step, there is a potentizing (succussion) step.*
12C #12 potentizing steps
30C #30 potentizing steps
200C #200 potentizing steps
* Done by hand or by machine

65. NMR Studies Nux vomica 30C, 200C, 1000C (10-2000)
Ethanol: 90%; 30C; 30C unagitated
Differences in T1 relaxation times
(p<0.001; 3 replicates)
Br. HP J (2000) 89:73-77

66. Research in Ultra-High Potencies
Dielectric index of water
altered by adding NaCl 27C Gay, 1951, 1952
Caltech study (2000):
H2O molecules form stable clusters; unique conformation when add any substance

67. Ultrahigh dilutions/ Microdoses
61X (10-61) Mercuric Chloride Solutions
--Increased rate of starch hydrolysis (500 trials) Pharm. Journal, Sept 11, 1954
12X-200M ( ,000) Sulphur Solutions
--Affected wt, dimensions, mineral content of
onion plants
1400X ( ) NaCl in dH2O (two 6 mo. trials)
-- Given daily to guinea pigs: affected appetite, wt, coat, decreased birth wts; higher death rate J Am Inst Hom, 18(1925), ;
Arndt-Schultz Law: Tiny concentrations stimulate; high concentrations kill.

68. The Arndt-Schultz Law

69. Basophil Degranulation After Exposure to Anti-Ig E (log dilutions)
Benveniste:
Basophil Degranulation
After Exposure to
Anti-Ig E (log dilutions)
Nature, (6176) 816-8
1:10 series
1:100 series

70. How does homeopathy work?

71. “I think you should be more explicit here in step 2.”
Then a miracle occurs…

72. Hahnemann The Remedies
Potentization ‘brings out the true essence of the substance, refining and amplifying its healing effects’
Hahnemann

73. High: 1M, 10M Young; or acute injury
The Vital Force
The potency (energetic strength) of a remedy is matched to the strength of patient’s vital force (vitality):
Potency Patient
Low: 6X-200X; 6C, 12C Old/weak
Medium: 30C to 200C Moderate
High: 1M, 10M Young; or acute injury

74. Energetic basis of life, health, disease
The Vital Force
Energetic basis of life, health, disease
~ Qi; Innate Intelligence
Responsible for immune function, growth, maintenance, repair
Disease begins on energetic level

75. The Vital Force
Vital force produces symptoms:
Indication of imbalance/disturbance/damage
Physical
Emotional
Mental

76. Symptoms and the Vital Force
Deeper level symptoms = deeper imbalance
Indicate health (vigor) of Vital Force
Indicate imbalances in Vital Force
Guides to what the Vital Force needs
Law of Similars

77. The Vital Force
Energetically based remedies stimulate the Vital Force to act on energetically based disease.

78. The Vital Force
Assess response:
Patient’s symptoms change:
--Improvement in overall well-being
--Improvement may be rapid, gradual, or accompanied by temporary stirring up of symptoms (aggravation)

79. Aggravations
Thompson et al, Homeopathy (4):302-9
Audit of remedy reactions, Bristol HP Hospital (n=116 patients)
--24% experienced an aggravation
--27% experienced new symptoms
--18% had a return of old symptoms
-- appeared to have better outcome

80. Clinical Research Positive and negative studies
Recent papers: Positive results for
Fibromyalgia (n=53) Bell et al; Fibromyalgia
Mild viral infections (n=485): 67.9 v 47.9% asymptomatic (Rabe et al; Int J ClinPract (9):827-32
Septic and intubated patients in critical care 2 RCT Wien  Med Wochenschr Nov;155(21-22):491-7.
Chronic disease (n=3,981) 2 yr study(allergic rhinitis, migraine, atopic dermatitis; 8.8 yrs ave duration)
Patient assessments of disease severity significantly decreased from 6.2 in adults (6.1 in children) at baseline to 2.2 (2.2 in children) after 24 months. Witt CM, Ludtke R, et al, BMC Public Health, 2005; 5: 115.

81. Meta-analysis: 107 controlled trials
Clinical Research
Meta-analysis: 107 controlled trials
81 showed positive results
22 trials with best methodology
15 had positive results
7 no positive result could be detected
Kleijnen et al; BMJ, Feb 9, 1991

82. Summary
Homeopathy is a system of medicine that uses energetically potentized medicines to stimulate a healing response by the Vital Force.
The action of a medicine is known by giving it to healthy individuals and recording its effects (proving).
A single remedy is matched to the patient’s symptom picture on the basis of the provings.
The response is evaluated by the changes in the symptoms and the patient’s overall well-being.

84. “The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle, and permanent restoration of the health, or the removal and annihilation of the disease in its whole extent, in the shortest, most reliable, and most harmless way, using easily understood principles.” Samuel Hahnemann