ABSTRACT
A tres décadas de la publicación del artículo científico que divulgó internacionalmente las investigaciones dirigidas por el doctor Jacques Benveniste en torno a la degranulación de basófilos disparada por anticuerpos altamente diluidos (fenómeno conocido de manera coloquial como "la memoria del agua"), el doctor Bernard Poitevin, quien fue colaborador en dichos estudios científicos, expone en este artículo su versión de la historia y sus puntos de vista sobre este episodio de especial trascendencia para la Homeopatía. En ese sentido, el presente documento nos contextualiza en el panorama que se vivía en torno a la medicina hahnemanniana en Francia desde finales de la década de 1970 y nos muestra ciertos detalles poco recordados sobre el trabajo de Benveniste: cómo se definió la metodología de la investigación, la forma en que se constituyó el equipo de trabajo y el papel que desempeñaron la industria farmacéutica homeopática, el sistema de salud francés y un lobby o grupo de presión contrario a la Homeopatía. Más aún, el artículo nos presenta al doctor Benveniste sin idealizaciones y nos sugiere que ciertos rasgos de su personalidad pudieron influir en el desarrollo de sus investigaciones y en la presentación de los resultados ante la comunidad científica, lo que a su vez pudo repercutir en las discusiones mediáticas que sucedieron en los siguientes años y cuyas consecuencias persisten hasta nuestros días. (AU)
Three decades after the publication of the scientific article on the research conducted by Dr. Jacques Benveniste on the degranulation of basophils triggered by highly diluted antibodies (a phenomenon known colloquially as "the memory of water"), Dr. Bernard Poitevin, who collaborated in the realization of such scientific studies, exposes in this article his version of history and his views on this episode of special significance for the Homeopathy. In this sense, the present document contextualizes us in the panorama that was lived around the Hahnemannian medicine in France since the end of the 1970s and shows us certain little-remembered details about the work directed by Benveniste: how the research methodology was defined, the way the research group was constituted and the role played by the homeopathic pharmaceutical industry, the health system of France and a lobby against Homeopathy. Moreover, the article presents a Dr. Benveniste without idealizations and suggests that certain features of his personality could influence the development of his research and the presentation of results to the scientific community, which in turn could affect the media discussions that happened in the following years and whose consequences persist to this day. (AU)
Subject(s)
High Potencies/history , Mechanisms of Action of Homeopathic Remedies , History , Homeopathy , Evidence-Based MedicineABSTRACT
De 1850 a 1920, coincidindo com o avanco da ciencia e tecnologia da Revolucao Industrial, alguns homeopatas tentaram construir maquinasque economizariam trabalho, pelas quais eles poderiam gerar potencias elevadas. Este artigo descreve estas invencoes, das quais temos ouvido muito, mas no geralpouco sabemos
Subject(s)
History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , Mechanical Dynamization/history , Continuous Flow/history , Mechanical Dynamization/methods , Dynamization/history , Dynamization/methods , High Potencies , High Potencies/historyABSTRACT
De 1850 a 1920, coincidindo com o avanco da ciencia e tecnologia da Revolucao Industrial, alguns homeopatas tentaram construir maquinasque economizariam trabalho, pelas quais eles poderiam gerar potencias elevadas. Este artigo descreve estas invencoes, das quais temos ouvido muito, mas no geralpouco sabemos
Subject(s)
History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , Mechanical Dynamization/history , Continuous Flow/history , Mechanical Dynamization/methods , Dynamization/history , Dynamization/methods , High Potencies/history , High Potencies/methodsABSTRACT
From 1850 to 1920, coinciding with the rise of the science and technology of the industrial revolution, a number of homoeopaths attempted to construct labour-saving machines by which they could create high potencies. This article describes these inventions, of which we have heard so much and yet, generally, know so little
