Homeopathic Science

Homeopathy a controversial medical system discovered by a German physician Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843) was first postulated  at the end of the 18^th century and mentioned  in the first edition of his Organon in 1810.⁽¹⁾ In such anecdotal times, where theories about the deficiency, four bodily fluids, theories about “corrupted juices” were propagating, against all odds, the beginning of  pre‐scientific medical theories were booming with evidence. Homeopathy was safest to administer and sustained the practice and preaching in the community due to its easy acceptance as compared to other line of treatment which involved painful procedures. But when explored in domain of criteria of evidence based medicine, homeopathy has always being in conflicts of proving itself different from the placebo effects and providing evidence on its mechanism of action.

Challenges against evidences for homoeopathy:

Researchers over the globe are curious in understanding the homeopathic science because the results of so called diluted medicines are contradicting the existing available literatures of research in basic science, modern medicine and pharmacological responses which are observed in these homeopathic medicines preceding the Avogadro’s limit. Experiments of Benveniste⁽²⁾ and Montagnier et al^(3-4), are worth documenting the evidence, but the replications of results had challenged their hypothical theories or plausible explanations as to how are these high diluted medicines exactly showing the effects different from placebo. Another challenge persists of deciphering the principles of potentization as it contradicts the second principle of thermodynamics, law of mass action and dose‐to‐effect relationship. Principle of Similia too is a challenge in exploring the effects and justifying the evidence based on laws and principles of basic science.^(1,5)

Evidence for homoeopathy:

To counter act the myths and dogmatism on the effects of Homeopathic medicines, researchers with their unbiased methodologies had decipher the actions of these diluted medicines. There are ongoing attempts as to prove the science of homeopathy in domain of evidence-based medicine. Various government funded agencies had analyzed the effects of homeopathic medicines in clinical research, among them their seems to be a conflicts of evidences provided by “Swiss Report on Homeopathy”^(6-18) followed with Australian Report on Homeopathy^(19-25) and British Science and Technology Report on Homeopathy^(26-28).

These high diluted medicines with suitable drug/toxic substance had exhibited physicochemical and biological properties; they had been explored in domain of hormesis, and also studied on gene expression. Research on water had also been explored through their exclusion zone phase and hypothesized as having a memory but for a short period. The nanoparticle-exclusion zone shells present in these homeopathic medicines might provide drug-specific information and might open up new domain of research in nanopharmacology.⁽²⁹⁾

Conclusion:

In this 21st century, science had dominated with its par excellence evidence as to perceive the wisdom in treating the humanity with its suffering. Complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM) has always been a challenge in justifying evidence’s as per the standard criteria. ⁽³⁰⁾ Homeopathy resembling a form of CAM has the potential in bringing up new evidences and providing the safest way of treatment for patients. Appropriate trial designs and methodologies if executed with rationale approach might change the pharmaco-economic industries and healthcare delivery system.

Conflict of Interest:

Authors declare no conflict of Interest.

Funding source:

No funding source was provided for this work.

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