The use of plant-based bioassays in homeopathic basic research.

OBJECTIVES The objective was to evaluate homeopathic basic research studies that use plant-based bioassays. With this in view, a compilation was made of the findings of three systematic literature reviews covering plant-based bioassays in the three fields of healthy, abiotically, or biotically stressed plants. This compilation focused on investigations using advanced experimental methods and detailed descriptions, also with the aim of supporting the design of future experiments. METHODS Publications included had to report on studies into the effects of homeopathic preparations on whole plants, seeds, plant parts and cells. Outcomes had to be measured by established procedures and statistically evaluated. A Manuscript Information Score (MIS) was applied using predefined criteria to identify publications with sufficient information for adequate interpretation (MIS ≥ 5). Additional evaluation focused on the use of adequate controls to investigate specific effects of homeopathic preparations, and on the use of systematic negative control (SNC) experiments to ensure the stability of the bioassay. Only a fraction of the studies reported here were performed with 'ultra high' dilutions, whereas other studies were performed with moderate or high dilutions. RESULTS A total of 157 publications were identified, describing a total of 167 experimental studies. 84 studies included statistics and 48 had a MIS ≥ 5, thus allowing adequate interpretation. 29 studies had adequate controls to identify specific effects of homeopathic preparations, and reported significant effects of decimal and centesimal homeopathic potencies, including dilution levels beyond Avogadro's number. 10 studies reported use of SNC experiments, yielding evidence for the stability of the experimental set-up. CONCLUSION Plant models appear to be a useful approach for investigating basic research questions relating to homeopathic preparations, but more independent replication trials are needed in order to verify the results found in single experiments. Adequate controls and SNC experiments should be implemented on a routine basis to exclude false-positive results.

Replications of fundamental research models in ultra high dilutions 1994 and 2015 - update on a bibliometric study

INTRODUCTION This paper focuses exclusively on experimental models with ultra high dilutions (i.e. beyond 10(-23)) that have been submitted to replication scrutiny. It updates previous surveys, considers suggestions made by the research community and compares the state of replication in 1994 with that in 2015. METHODS Following literature research, biochemical, immunological, botanical, cell biological and zoological studies on ultra high dilutions (potencies) were included. Reports were grouped into initial studies, laboratory-internal, multicentre and external replications. Repetition could yield either comparable, or zero, or opposite results. The null-hypothesis was that test and control groups would not be distinguishable (zero effect). RESULTS A total of 126 studies were found. From these, 28 were initial studies. When all 98 replicative studies were considered, 70.4% (i.e. 69) reported a result comparable to that of the initial study, 20.4% (20) zero effect and 9.2% (9) an opposite result. Both for the studies until 1994 and the studies 1995-2015 the null-hypothesis (dominance of zero results) should be rejected. Furthermore, the odds of finding a comparable result are generally higher than of finding an opposite result. Although this is true for all three types of replication studies, the fraction of comparable studies diminishes from laboratory-internal (total 82.9%) to multicentre (total 75%) to external (total 48.3%), while the fraction of opposite results was 4.9%, 10.7% and 13.8%. Furthermore, it became obvious that the probability of an external replication producing comparable results is bigger for models that had already been further scrutinized by the initial researchers. CONCLUSIONS We found 28 experimental models which underwent replication. In total, 24 models were replicated with comparable results, 12 models with zero effect, and 6 models with opposite results. Five models were externally reproduced with comparable results. We encourage further replications of studies in order to learn more about the model systems used.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Pain Management

Over the past several years, there has been a growing interest in CAM therapies at UCHC. There are doctors, nurses, researchers and students all actively learning about, researching and using CAM modalities. Among them is Dr. Mitch Kennedy, the first Naturopathic Physician to treat patients at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

O papel do profissional de farmácia no conhecimento da sociedade sobre medicamentos homeopáticos

A homeopatia é uma medicina diferente da medicina tradicional, em crescente expansão pelo mundo e fundamentada por três princípios básicos defendidos por Samuel Hahnemann. A homeopatia possui diversas utilizações contudo, segundo a literatura, existe uma desconfiança em relação à sua eficácia. Os objetivos deste trabalho são, em primeiro lugar, reunir de forma organizada e objetiva todos os aspetos importantes relacionados com a homeopatia e em segundo lugar, verificar se o perfil do profissional de farmácia influencia o conhecimento da população sobre os medicamentos homeopáticos bem como estabelecer o perfil dos consumidores de medicamentos homeopáticos. Primeiramente, este trabalho consiste numa revisão que compila a diversa informação sobre homeopatia desde a sua definição, os seus princípios, evolução no mundo e introdução em Portugal, as suas utilizações, a controvérsia e o papel do profissional de farmácia no aconselhamento destes medicamentos. Numa segunda etapa, este trabalho apresenta um estudo transversal, observacional e de coorte realizado a utentes de duas farmácias em que uma delas aconselha diariamente medicamentos homeopáticos ao contrário da outra. Foi aplicado um questionário com perguntas de cariz sociodemográfico e perguntas que permitem avaliar o conhecimento dos utentes sobre esta medicina. Dos 364 indivíduos, 187 (51,4%) afirmam saber o que são medicamentos homeopáticos e destes, 113 (60,4%) possuem efetivamente conhecimento sobre homeopatia, contudo, apenas 129 (35,5%) afirmam já ter tomado estes medicamentos. Tanto o conhecimento como a toma destes medicamentos manifestam-se com maior percentagem de indivíduos na farmácia que aconselha. São os indivíduos mais jovens, com ensino superior, não casados, trabalhadores ativos e com profissão pertencente à área da saúde os que demonstram mais conhecimento sobre o tema. São as mulheres, os indivíduos com ensino superior, com profissão pertencente à área da saúde e com condição socioeconómica média os que demonstraram maior adesão a estes medicamentos. Além disto, este estudo permitiu concluir que o aconselhamento do profissional de farmácia pode ser decisivo no que respeita ao conhecimento e adesão dos utentes a este tipo de medicação. A caracterização do conhecimento e da adesão dos utentes de farmácia comunitária em relação aos medicamentos homeopáticos contribuiu para verificar que tipo de população se interessa por esta área e se a adesão a estes medicamentos é satisfatória de modo a incentivar as farmácias e os profissionais de farmácia a promoverem e aconselharem mais frequentemente medicamentos homeopáticos.

The mnemonic similiad.

Mode of access: Internet.

Pamphlets - homoeopathic.

Title from spine.

The medical genius ; a guide to the cure /

Mode of access: Internet.

Revista homeopática Catalana.

No more published?

Materia medica pura.

Mode of access: Internet.

Homœopathic domestic physician : containing the treatment of diseases :with popular explanations of anatomy, physiology, hygiene, and hydropathy : also an abridged materia medica /

At head of title: Enlarged and illustrated edition.

Klinische Erfahrungen in der Homöopathie : eine vollständige Sammlung : aller, in der deutschen und ins Deutsche übertragenen homöopathischen Literatur niedergelegten Heilungen und praktischen Bemerkungen, vom Jahre 1822 bis 1850 /

Mode of access: Internet.

A manual of homoeopathic cookery : designed chiefly for the use of such persons as are under homoeopathic treatment /

Includes index.

G. H. G. Jahr's Manual of homoeopathic medicine.

Translation of his Klinische Anweisungen zu homöopathischer Behandlung der Krankheiten.

A domestic homœopathy : restricted to its legitimate sphere of practice : together with rules for diet and regimen /

"A sketch of Hahnemann and his wife / by Helen Berkley."--p. [xxi]-xliii.

Eléments de médecine pratique : contenant le traitement homoeopathique de chaque maladie.

Mode of access: Internet.