Verification of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Characterization of Traditional Homeopathically Manufactured Metal (Cuprum metallicum) and Plant (Gelsemium sempervirens) Medicines and Controls

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p> Background Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) proton relaxation is sensitive to the dynamics of the water molecule, H2O, through the interaction of the spin of the proton (1H) with external magnetic and electromagnetic fields. NMR relaxation times describe how quickly the spin of 1H, forced in a direction by an external electromagnetic field, returns to a normal resting position. As a result, such measurements allow us potentially to describe higher structuring of water in homeopathic medicines.</jats:p><jats:p> Objective The purpose of the present study was to verify whether specific NMR relaxation times could be measured in full lines of cH dynamizations of a metal (copper) and of a plant substance (Gelsemium sempervirens), compared with a solvent control, a potentized lactose control and a control prepared by simple dilution, in three production lines. It is aimed at verification of a previous publication (2017) on two new manufacturing lines of the same starting material and controls.</jats:p><jats:p> Materials and Methods To monitor dilution and potentization processes, measurements of 1H spin-lattice T1 and spin-spin T2 relaxation times were used. T1 and T2 relaxation times were measured at 25°C with a spin analyser working at a frequency of 20 MHz. To account for its possible role as a confounding factor, free oxygen was also measured in all samples, using a MicroOptode meter.</jats:p><jats:p> Results When the values of the three production lines were pooled, a statistically significant discrimination of NMR relaxation times between the medicines and their controls was confirmed. We found for copper cH and Gelsemium sempervirens cH a highly significant influence of the starting material (p = 0.008), a highly significant influence of level of dilution (p &lt; 0.001), and a significant influence of the O2 concentration (p = 0.04).</jats:p><jats:p> Conclusions We have evidence of an obvious retention of a specific magnetic resonance signal when a substance (lactose, copper, Gelsemium) is diluted/potentized in pure water. This means that homeopathic solutions cannot be considered to be pure water. O2 is a covariant and not an explanatory variable: this factor itself is too weak to explain the NMR signal specificities in potentized samples. Homeopathic dilutions may thus have a specific material configuration governed not only by the potentized substance but also by the chemical nature of the containers, the chemical nature of dissolved gases and even by the electromagnetic environment. This sensitivity of homeopathically prepared medicines to electromagnetic fields may be amplified by the processes routinely applied during their preparation; because it occurs only when a dynamization has been performed, we may call this phenomenon “dynamic pharmacy”.</jats:p>

Particle Characterisation of Traditional Homeopathically Manufactured Medicine Cuprum metallicum and Controls

“…To verify this assertion, other methodologies, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy & Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; ph. Infrared measurements and Electro-photonic analysis are needed [1,[26][27].…”

“…Research on homeopathic medicines must not remain anecdotal but should be integrated into the pharmaceutical training of future pharmacists. The DynHom project must continue carrying out more systematic particle measurements, as has already taken place [1] using other approaches such as NMR measurements [26][27].…”

“…Previous publications [13,[24][25][26][27] using NMR relaxation have revealed the involvement of nanobubbles and/or nanoparticles and/or nanometric superstructures in high potentizations. The purpose of the present exploratory study was to replicate and extend the characterization of colloidal particles in homeopathically-made Cuprum metallicum (copper source) following good pharmaceutical practice (GPP) in 6 different manufacturing lines up to 30C potency, comparing these with solvent control, potentized lactose control, diluted copper control, and potentized soluble potassium chloride control.…”

Physicochemical Properties of Zinc and Lactose in Solid Mixtures: Influence of Trituration Process

“…9 However, Van Wassenhoven et al 19 and Holandino et al 9 could not confirm the presence of nanoparticle structures when Cuprum and Zinc mixtures, dynamized and non-dynamized, were analyzed. Once recognizing that dynamization is the vital process involved in the preparation of homeopathic medicines, it is very important to use proper tools to provide evidence about the changes induced by this method, recently defined by Van Wassenhoven et al 21 as "dynamic pharmacy", since it is used only in the preparation of homeopathic remedies.…”

“…22 The homeopathic medicine manufacturing process influences the NMR relaxation times: thus the presence of oxygen, the chemical nature of vessels, as well as the electromagnetic environment, should not be neglected. 21…”