Free water molecules and hydrogen bonding form the basis of variation in homeopathic potencies as revealed by vibrational spectroscopy

Using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) we have demonstrated that homeopathic potencies of Natrum mur, Cantharis, Nux vomica and Sulphur show differences with respect to the number of free water molecules and strength of hydrogen bonding. The purpose of the present study is to confirm this phenomenon in three potencies of two more drugs Calcarea carb and Silicea. Design: The potencies used for each of the two drugs were 30cH, 200cH and 1000cH. The control was 90% ethanol as also the potentized drugs. The control, as well as the potencies, were diluted with distilled water to reduce the level of ethanol to 0.03 molar fraction in each of them. FTIR spectra of all the potentized drugs, control and sterile distilled water (reference water) were taken in the wave number region of 4000-2800 cm-1. The full width at half maximum (fwhm) of OH band was measured for each spectrum. The width was divided into two in the middle. The difference spectrum (absorbance of drug solution - absorbance of reference water) for each potency and the control was obtained after normalization of the spectrum at 3410 cm-1. One difference spectrum so obtained for a potency was subtracted from another to find out if there is a difference between two different potencies. Results: The half width half maximum (hwhm) in both the high and low-frequency sides of the OH band is far less narrow in potencies than in the control as compared to that in water. The difference spectra for different potencies show different levels of fall in intensity at the wave number region of dip at 3630 cm-1...

Las bases científicas de la homeopatía / The scientific basis of homeopathy

A través de un recorrido por los principios de la Homeopatía y la evolución de sus ideas es posible delimitar las líneas de investigación que podrían desarrollarse para responder las dudas e interrogantes que surgen de la aplicación de esta disciplina,situada entre las ciencias médicas, humanas, biológicas y físicas.A continuación se presenta el resumen de diversas investigaciones que han comprobado, por ejemplo, que los medicamentos homeopáticos sí actúan en células, modelos animales y seres humanos, aunque no se ha logrado explicarcómo; además, se pone de manifiesto que los criterios para evaluar no pueden ser idénticos a los que se emplean en la farmacología clásica, si bien existe cierta similitud.Se concluye que a pesar de que hay demasiados aspectos de la Homeopatía que siguen sin tener una explicación coherente en términos científicos clásicos, no deben rechazarse sin miramientos, sino estudiarse.

Through a tour of the principles of homeopathy and the evolution of his ideas is possible to delineate the lines of research that could be developed to answer the doubts and questions that arise from the application of this discipline, between the medical and social sciences, biological and physical.The summary of several studies that have found, for example is presented, that homeopathic medicines do act on cells, animal models and humans, but has not been able to explainhow; moreover, shows that the criteria for evaluating may not be identical to those used in classical pharmacology, while there is some similarity.We conclude that although there are too many aspects of homeopathy that still lack a coherent explanation in classical scientific terms, should not be rejected without consideration, but studied.