Michel Van Wassenhoven

Plausibility and evidence: the case of homeopathy

Homeopathy is controversial and hotly debated. The conclusions of systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials of homeopathy vary from ‘comparable to conventional medicine’ to ‘no evidence of effects beyond placebo’. It is claimed that homeopathy conflicts with scientific laws and that homoeopaths reject the naturalistic outlook, but no evidence has been cited. We are homeopathic physicians and researchers who do not reject the scientific outlook; we believe that examination of the prior beliefs underlying this enduring stand-off can advance the debate. We show that interpretations of the same set of evidence—for homeopathy and for conventional medicine—can diverge. Prior disbelief in homeopathy is rooted in the perceived implausibility of any conceivable mechanism of action. Using the ‘crossword analogy’, we demonstrate that plausibility bias impedes assessment of the clinical evidence. Sweeping statements about the scientific impossibility of homeopathy are themselves unscientific: scientific statements must be precise and testable. There is growing evidence that homeopathic preparations can exert biological effects; due consideration of such research would reduce the influence of prior beliefs on the assessment of systematic review evidence.

Electric measurement of ultra-high dilutions—a blinded controlled experiment

This experiment was designed to test the hypothesis put forward by P. Bourkas, A. Delinick and C. Karragiannopoulos of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) that Ultra High Succussed Dilutions (UHSD) can be distinguished from control solutions by an Electric Measurement Device (EMD), developed by the NTUA team.M0 A pre-formulated experimental protocol was followed, measuring in random sequence test solutions of double-distilled and deionised water (aqua injectabile), potentised water (6 cH, 30 cH), Natrum muriaticum (Nat mur) potentised in aqua injectabile (6 cH, 30 cH), either blind or open. The number of measurements was determined by a power analysis based on open pilot readings. While the open pilot trial performed by the NTUA team showed a large difference in readings for the controls and test-solutions, the experimental blind test was negative. The only significant difference observed was between Nat tour 6 cH and Nat mur 30 cH, and the direction of the difference was in the opposite direction from that predicted by theory and found in the pilot experiment. No differences were found between any other conditions, and in particular Nat mur 30 cH and aqua 30 cH could not be distinguished. It was suggested that the failure to detect a difference in the main trial resulted from a different brand of water being used in the main trial; the likelihood of this, and other alternative explanations, is discussed. It was concluded that the EMD is a highly sensitive apparatus for measuring impurities in water. As yet there is no obvious link between the measurement of impurities in water and the purported alteration of solvent in the process of homoeopathic potentisation.

Retrospective study of rheumatological patients in a private homoeopathic medical practice

Abstract A retrospective study of rheumatological patients seen in a private homoeopathicpractice was conducted. 3,555 computerized patient files were surveyed, yielding 99 patients with a primary diagnosis of arthritis. Patient files were analysed by diagnosis, demographic variables and duration of follow-up. Response to treatment, level of similarity, medicines and dilutions prescribed are presented. Forty-three patients were able to stop all conventional medication, most of the treatment failures were in-patients with relatively brief follow-up. Some representative case histories are described.

Nanoparticle Characterisation of Traditional Homeopathically Manufactured Cuprum metallicum and Gelsemium sempervirens Medicines and Controls

BACKGROUND  Homeopathy is controversial due to its use of very highly diluted medicines (high potencies/dynamisations). METHODS  We used a multi-technology approach to examine dilutions of two commonly used homeopathic medicines: an insoluble metal, Cuprum metallicum, and a soluble plant tincture, Gelsemium sempervirens, for the presence of nanoparticles (NPs) of original substance. The homeopathic medicines tested were specially prepared, according to the European pharmacopoeia standards. We compared the homeopathic dilutions/dynamisations with simple dilutions and controls. RESULTS  Using Mass Spectrometry (Single Particle-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) we could not find the expected copper in the 4cH potentisation and could not confirm the results previously obtained by Chikramane et al (2010). For Gelsemium medicines, using sensitive chromatography (HPLC-UV) up to a dilution level of 6 dH (3cH = dilution 10e-6), there was no significant difference in alkaloid content between a simple dilution and a homeopathic potency.For higher potentisations, however, NP tracking analysis findings revealed the presence of particles in all samples (except for pure water). The measurements showed large differences in particle quantities, mean particle sizes and standard deviations of the mean sizes between manufacturing lines of different starting material.There was always more material in potentised medicines than in potentised pure water. Gelsemium yielded the largest quantity of material (36 times more than that from copper at the same potentisation, 30 cH). The shapes and the chemical composition of the material are differentiable between different medicines and controls. CONCLUSION  Potentisation influences specifically the nature of NPs detected. This material demonstrates that the step-by-step process (dynamised or not) does not match with the theoretical expectations in a dilution process. The Avogadro/Loschmidt limit is not relevant at all. It was not possible to reproduce the findings of Chikramane et al (2010) using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry with copper. Copper NPs could not be detected at 4cH and above.

A retrospective study of cardiac rhythm disorders: Retrospective study on cardiac rhythm disorders in a private homoeopathic medical practice.

Abstract Retrospective studies can be considered as the first step towards an evaluation and improvement of homoeopathic practice. Through these preliminary studies, criteria for future prospective studies can be chosen as well as suitable homoeopathic practitioners to conduct them. From this study, we can conclude that disorders of heart rhythm seem to be an excellent subject for research into the efficacy of homoeopathy. Especially for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, all patients were cured and able to discontinue their allopathic medication. In view of the fact that 50% of the patients included in this study stopped the use of allopathic drugs, one can conclude that homoeopathy certainly has a place in the treatment strategy of these diseases.