There have been many therories over the years about how homeopathy works.  This article will explore the exciting findings of independent researchers who have proved, using electron microscopy, that homeopathic medicines contain nanoparticles of the orginal substance.

Before we get into the details of the research, it is important to understand how homeopathic medicines are made.

Homeopathic Medicines Are Not Simply Highly Diluted Substances

It is well known that homeopathic medicines are diluted beyond Avogrado’s number. This means that, in theory, there should not be any of the original starting material left in the dilution. Homeopaths, of course, understand that our homeopathic medicines are not simply diluted. However, this information is not widey known and most skeptics of homeopathy do not realise that there is another crucial phase in the preparation of homeopathic medicines.

The Overlooked Crucial Stage In The Preparation of Homeopathic Medicines

There are several essential phases in the preparation of homeopathic medicines. Firstly, substances which are insoluble in alcohol such as metals or salts are triturated (ground) in a pestle and mortar. Dilution is the next stage and after each dilution succussion takes place. Succussion involves banging the bottle of medicine on a hard but elastic object. This has the effect of agitating the substance and, as we will see, is a crucial step in the preparation of homeopathic medicines.

It is the process of dilution and subsequent succussion after each and every dilution that constitutes a homeopathic medicine. A substance which has simply been diluted does not qualify as a homeopathic, which is perhaps where the misunderstanding lies.

Researchers Prove That Homeopathic Medicines Contain Nanoparticles Of The Orignal Substance

Jayesh R. Ballere is a chemical engineer and researcher at The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB). He is a microscopist involved in nanotechnology for the conventional healthcare sector. He is involved in the development, for example, of microdevices for cardiac use which prevent the need for invasive surgery. In his video, he explains that nanomaterials in the human body have the ability to:

* cross the blood brain barrier

* slip through tight junctions

* evade macrophages to a certain point i.e. they do not usually trigger the immune system

* biointegrate (joint to cells)

He goes onto explain that many modern medical treatments use nanotechnology, including cancer treatment, for instance.

Jayesh Ballere had no previous affiliation with Homeopathy. In fact, he was raised to view homeopathy as unscientific. However, whilst giving presentations people would often ask him if nanoparticles are involved in homeopathy. It was this question and his own curious nature which prompted him to carry out this ground breaking research into homeopathy.

Using electron microscopy Jayesh Ballere and his team studied various potencies of a selection of Homeopathic medicines made from metals and salts. This included the well known Homeopathic medicines Zinc Met, Cuprum Met and Nat Mur. To their surprise, the team discovered nanoparticles of the starting material in the homeopathic medicines they examined, despite the high dilutions.  

Jayesh Bellare explains the reasoning behind this discovery:

* Nano partices form during the trituration of the starting material.

* Succussion which is performed after each dilution generates bubbles.

* Nanoparticles cling to the bubbles and rise to the surface of the solvent forming a monolayer whilst the larger particles remain at the bottom.

* The monolayer is transferred and retained during each dilution as long as the next step is carried out whilst the bubbles are still present which is in accordance with the Hahnemannian method. (This is a bit like the process of cream floating on top of a cup of coffee and slipping off when you pour a little out).

* The nanoparticles are coated in silica which arises from the particular grade of glass that is used in the preparation of homeopathic medicines.

Conclusion

Succussion is a vital step in the preparation of homeopathic medicines developed by Sammuel Hanemann but it has never been quite clear why.  Jayesh Ballere’s exciting discovery shows that succussion is crucial because it agitates the substance. In the process bubbles are generated which the nanoparticles of the original substance cling to.

If you enjoyed this article you might also be interested in other homeopathic articles on my Blog

References

Chikramane PS1, Suresh AK, Bellare JR, Kane SG. Extreme homeopathic dilutions retain starting materials: A nanoparticulate perspective. 2010 Oct;99(4):231-42. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2010.05.006.
1 Suresh AK2, Kane SG3, Bellare JR4. Establishing the interfacial nano-structure and elemental composition of homeopathic medicines based on inorganic salts: a scientific approach. 2016 May;105(2):160-72. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2015.09.006. Epub 2016 Feb 8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27211323