Postconditioning hormesis and the homeopathic Similia principle: Molecular aspects

Abstract

<jats:p> Postexposure conditioning, as a part of hormesis, involves the application of a low dose of stress following exposure to a severe stress condition. Depending on whether the low-dose stress is of the same type of stress or is different from the initial high-dose stress causing the diseased state, postconditioning can be classified as homologous or heterologous, respectively. In clinical homeopathy, the same distinction is found between isopathic and homeopathic application of low-dose substances. Homeopathy is unique for its Similia principle, which implies that substances causing symptoms in healthy biological systems can be used to treat similar symptoms in diseased biological systems. The evaluation of the Similia principle in an experimental set-up requires the analysis of a complex sequence of ‘damage-disease-treatment-effect’ events. The process of recovery from an insult is then monitored and a possible beneficial effect on this recovery process, upon application of a range of substances in low dose, can subsequently be analyzed using molecular and functional parameters. It is then possible to compare the effect of treatment with the degree of similarity between the diseased state and the effects caused by homologous and/or different heterologous substances. Beneficial effects of postconditioning mild stress conditions have been described in terms of an increase of the synthesis of stress proteins. In this commentary paper, we present additional information on this aspect. The experimental data suggest that the beneficial effect of the low-dose stress condition used as heterologous postconditioning is related to similarity in molecular stress response. </jats:p>

Nonlinear Response Amplification Mechanisms for Low Doses of Natural Product Nanomedicines: Dynamical Interactions with the Recipient Complex Adaptive System

“…Low doses of nanoparticles can cause hormesis [105,123]. Other studies have demonstrated that low doses of homeopathically-prepared metals, including cadmium and arsenic, can produce beneficial hormetic reversal of effects of higher, toxic doses of the same or crosssensitized agent on heat shock protein activation patterns [124]. Heat shock proteins are among the biological modulators of the stress response networks involved in adaptation to various environmental stressors [94,125].…”

“…The reader is referred to other papers on these low dose, organismdependent response amplification phenomena for more in-depth explanations [21,99,119,120]. Given the quantum dot size of some homeopathically-prepared metal NPs [3], it is not also possible to rule out quantum mechanical phenomena in some of the homeopathicallyinduced low dose responses [147][148][149].…”

“…The discrete nanomedicine dose constitutes the pulsed input signal. The result is resistance or cross-resistance (adaptation or cross-adaptation) to same or similar biological stressor or injury, whether they already have occurred or might occur at higher intensities in the future [97][98][99][100][101].…”

“…These phenomena are: hormesis [99,119], time-dependent sensitization [21], and stochastic resonance [120]. All three forms of endogenous amplification share an essential feature.…”

“…The discrete nanomedicine dose constitutes the pulsed input signal. The result is resistance or cross-resistance (adaptation or cross-adaptation) to same or similar biological stressor or injury, whether they already have occurred or might occur at higher intensities in the future [97][98][99][100][101].The purpose of homeopathic treatment is not to force a specific change in a single target tissue with continuous dosing, in the manner of a conventional bulk form drug. Instead, the intent is to stimulate a cascade of multiple systemic adaptations around the network, all set into motion by the original salient stimulus of a discrete low dose of specific NPs [21].…”