Immunological models in high dilution research following M Bastide

Abstract

In 1994, Madeleine Bastide described experimental models in immunology that were used during the 1980s to investigate high dilution effects on several biological systems. She classified the available papers in four categories: High dilutions of antigens; High dilutions of thymus, bursa and other hormones; High dilutions of cytokines; Immunopharmacological activity of silica. The studies about high dilutions of antigens were not continued after this period, but gave rise to a long process of a series of in vitro models on antigens and histamine dilutions, that led to the demonstration of the biological modulation effects of these preparations on basophil degranulation. During this process, a multi-centre study was performed, with a high degree of reproducibility among different independent laboratories. The studies about high diluted cytokines, thymulin and other hormones opened a new line of scientific investigation, about the regulatory properties of endogenous substances prepared according to homeopathic methods. The most frequently studied substance, thymulin, when administered to mice at 5cH potency, is able to improve the activity of phagocytes in different experimental situations, such as viral, bacterial and parasitic infections. The immunopharmacological activity of silica was demonstrated, at that time, as an in vivo illustration of the homeopathic 'similia principle'. More recently, studies on silica have assumed another focus: the putative role of silica as active contaminant present in high dilutions. This paper presents a follow-up summary on these items, considering the evolution of discoveries from 1994 to 2014.

Effects of Homeopathic Phosphorus on Encephalitozoon cuniculi-Infected Macrophages In-Vitro

“…The effects of homeopathic medicines in relation to the vehicle (placebo) may be seen in studies performed in-vivo or in standard clinical trials. 8,9,[14][15][16][19][20][21][22][23] However, characterizing the specificity of such effects is even more important in refined studies designed in-vitro, 44 since it is known that the succussion itself can promote changes in the solvent organization, including the generation of different oxygenderived radicals, mainly when water is used. [45][46][47] Macrophage cultures are very sensitive for detecting the effect of high dilutions but are also sensitive for detecting such solvent changes as well, concerning elements related to cell oxidative metabolism.…”

“…Using various models of macrophage challenge with other micro-organisms, our team has previously shown that highly diluted medicines, instead of killing the micro-organisms, facilitate the organization of a more effective pattern of macrophage response and arrest the parasite's life cycle. [8][9][10][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] For this reason, a similar model was designed herein to explain the clinical results, and avoiding new in-vivo experiments.…”

“Ultra High Dilution 1994” revisited 2015 – the state of follow-up research

“…Leoni Bonamin reported on the immunological models presented by Madeleine Bastide (deced ee) in 1994. 1 These models on high dilutions of hormones, antigens, cytokines, and then remedy silica have had a considerable influence on follow-up high and UHD research on other models, 8 including the studies with amphibians and thyroid hormone.…”

Ultra High Dilution – Physiology and Physics comes of age

“…2 Leoni Bonamin pays a fitting tribute to Madeleine Bastide, reviewing her work particularly on homoeopathically prepared thymulin which, when administered to mice in the 5CH potency, enhances phagocyte activity in various different experimental situations. 3 Bernard Poitevin looks at other immuno-allergological models. Sadly, the Apis in human basophil degranulation model, which he pioneered with Jacques Benveniste, is among those that have not been replicated.…”