Basic research in homeopathy and ultra-high dilutions: what progress is being made?

Betti, Lucietta; Trebbi, Grazia; Olioso, Debora; Marzotto, Marta; Bellavite, Paolo

doi:10.1016/j.homp.2013.01.002

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The effect is said to increase with increasing dilutions (Molski 2011), which is the main controversy to the conventional medicines. Although homeopathy meets great scepticism (Ernst 2010), it is increasingly used in western countries (Betti et al 2013). Placebo-controlled trials have shown that there is weak evidence for a specific effect of homoeopathic medicines (Shang et al 2005).…”

Section: Background On Homeopathymentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmacy employees’ self-rated knowledge, use and attitudes toward homeopathy: A comparative survey in Sweden and Germany

Essling

Khalaf

2019

European Pharmaceutical Journal

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Background: Homeopathy is being increasingly practiced within different medical areas of use. Homeopathic medicines are sold in German pharmacies, whereas the assortment of Swedish pharmacies does not include homeopathic medicines. Despite differences between Sweden and Germany, homeopathic medicines are classified as drugs in both countries. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacy employees’ self-rated knowledge, use and attitudes toward homeopathy in Sweden and Germany. Methods: A quantitative web-survey was sent to 30 pharmacies in Sweden and 30 pharmacies in Germany, which were selected by using a multi-stage clustering sampling. The questionnaire contained closed-ended rating scales. To compare the self-rated knowledge, use and attitudes toward homeopathy of Swedish and German pharmacy employees, chi-square tests and Mann-Whitney tests were performed in SPSS. Results: A total of 209 pharmacy employees answered the survey (108 in Sweden and 101 in Germany). German participants estimated their knowledge higher than the Swedish participants (p < 0.01). In both countries, most participants thought that pharmacy employees should have knowledge about homeopathy. Although most Swedish participants stated that they receive questions about homeopathy, the German pharmacy employees receive questions about homeopathy more frequently (p < 0.01). Swedish participants reported less experience of own use of homeopathic medicines and less belief in their effectiveness as compared to the German participants (p < 0.01). However, in both countries, most participants stated that homeopathic medicines should be sold in pharmacies. Conclusion: As pharmacy employees should act professionally to advice customers on all drugs, increased homeopathic knowledge in pharmacy employees could potentially improve pharmaceutical practice.

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Section: Background On Homeopathymentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmacy employees’ self-rated knowledge, use and attitudes toward homeopathy: A comparative survey in Sweden and Germany

Essling

Khalaf

2019

European Pharmaceutical Journal

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“…Similia principle is plausible and rationale in several fields of medical science. Gelsemium alkaloids are neurotoxic at high doses and therapeutic at low doses (32)(33)(34) Hypothesis on the mechanism of action Gelsemium s. dilutions affect neurosteroid biosynthesis and modulate gene expression in neuronal cells (16,29,35) because it deals with the difficult-to-solve technical issues of high dilutions, hormesis and paradoxical reversal of the effects of drugs. One would therefore expect the related questions to be addressed not through subjective opinions and jeering, but rather on the experiential ground, through patient and critical comparison of data and results.…”

Section: Plausibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific criticism in homoeopathy: need to test more than disputes

2014

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“…With the advent of nanoparticle formulations gaining importance as effective treatment options, parallels have been drawn between the mechanism of action of nanomedicines and homeopathy. 4 Chikramane et al investigated 30C and 200C homeopathic dilutions of Aurum met and Cuprum met and proved using transmission electron microscopy that these ultra-high potencies contained nanoparticles, which might account for their biological effects. 5 The second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women is attributed to breast cancer, causing 458,000 deaths annually worldwide.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Vitro Assessment of Homeopathic Potencies of Hydrastis canadensis on Hormone-Dependent and Independent Breast Cancer

et al. 2020

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Abstract Background Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Conventional treatment such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiotherapy has decreased the mortality rate among cancer patients but has also revealed long-term side effects. Drug resistance and toxicity to normal cells compound the problems associated with the use of modern medicines. Hence, complementary or alternative treatment options are being explored. The current study, using different homeopathic potencies of Hydrastis canadensis, was conducted to distinguish between any effects they might have on hormone-dependent and independent breast cancer. Materials and Methods The cytotoxic effect of homeopathic medicine Hydrastis on hormone-dependent (MCF 7) and hormone-independent (MDA-MB-468) breast cancer cells was assessed using viability and colony-forming assays after 48 or 72 hours of treatment. Flow cytometry-based Annexin V-PI (propidium iodide), caspase 3 and cell cycle analysis was performed following treatment of cells with mother tincture or various potencies of Hydrastis (1C, 2C, 30C, 200C). Results Different potencies of Hydrastis displayed selective cytotoxic effects against MCF 7 cells, but only marginal effects against MDA-MB-468. The maximum cytotoxicity was established in the case of 1C following 72 hours of treatment. Treatment of breast cancer cells revealed an increase in the G0/G1 cell population, along with an increase in the caspase 3 levels and induction of apoptosis. Conclusion Hydrastis may have a selective cytotoxic effect against hormone-dependent breast cancer MCF 7 cells, leading to cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, which could be the plausible reason for the induction of apoptosis. The results need to be validated in vivo.

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Basic research in homeopathy and ultra-high dilutions: what progress is being made?

Cited by 13 publications

References 32 publications

Pharmacy employees’ self-rated knowledge, use and attitudes toward homeopathy: A comparative survey in Sweden and Germany

Pharmacy employees’ self-rated knowledge, use and attitudes toward homeopathy: A comparative survey in Sweden and Germany

Scientific criticism in homoeopathy: need to test more than disputes

In Vitro Assessment of Homeopathic Potencies of Hydrastis canadensis on Hormone-Dependent and Independent Breast Cancer

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