eCAM Advance Access originally published online on May 2, 2006
eCAM 2006 3(2):171-186; doi:10.1093/ecam/nel016
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lecture Series |
Immunology and Homeopathy. 3. Experimental Studies on Animal Models
1 Department of Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, University of Verona Piazza L.A. Scuro, 37134 Verona, Italy, 2 Association for Integrative Medicine "Giovanni Scolaro", University of Verona Piazza L.A. Scuro, 37134 Verona, Italy, and 3 Department of Medicina e Sanità Pubblica, University of Verona Piazza L.A. Scuro, 37134 Verona, Italy
A search of the literature and the experiments carried out by the authors of this review show that there are a number of animal models where the effect of homeopathic dilutions or the principles of homeopathic medicine have been tested. The results relate to the immunostimulation by ultralow doses of antigens, the immunological models of the ‘simile’, the regulation of acute or chronic inflammatory processes and the use of homeopathic medicines in farming. The models utilized by different research groups are extremely etherogeneous and differ as the test medicines, the dilutions and the outcomes are concerned. Some experimental lines, particularly those utilizing mice models of immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of homeopathic complex formulations, give support to a real effect of homeopathic high dilutions in animals, but often these data are of preliminary nature and have not been independently replicated. The evidence emerging from animal models is supporting the traditional ‘simile’ rule, according to which ultralow doses of compounds, that in high doses are pathogenic, may have paradoxically a protective or curative effect. Despite a few encouraging observational studies, the effectiveness of the homeopathic prevention or therapy of infections in veterinary medicine is not sufficiently supported by randomized and controlled trials.
Keywords: homeopathy – immunology – animal models – veterinary homeopathy – similia principle – ultra-high dilutions – isopathy – homeopathic complexes – paradoxical pharmacology
For reprints and all correspondence: Paolo Bellavite, Department of Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, University of Verona, Piazza L.A. Scuro, 37134 Verona, Italy. Tel/Fax: +39 0458 202978 E-mail: paolo.bellavite{at}univr.it
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  E. R. Secor Jr, W. F. Carson IV, A. Singh, M. Pensa, L. A. Guernsey, C. M. Schramm, and R. S. Thrall Oral Bromelain Attenuates Inflammation in an Ovalbumin-induced Murine Model of Asthma Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., March 1, 2008; 5(1): 61 - 69. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Hielm-Bjorkman, R.-M. Tulamo, H. Salonen, and M. Raekallio Evaluating Complementary Therapies for Canine Osteoarthritis Part II: A Homeopathic Combination Preparation (Zeel(R)) Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., October 29, 2007; (2007) nem143v2. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Z. Teixeira Brief Homeopathic Pathogenetic Experimentation: A Unique Educational Tool in Brazil Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., October 4, 2007; (2007) nem128v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Bellavite, R. Ortolani, F. Pontarollo, G. Pitari, and A. Conforti Immunology and Homeopathy. 5. The Rationale of the 'Simile' Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., June 1, 2007; 4(2): 149 - 163. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Bellavite, R. Ortolani, F. Pontarollo, V. Piasere, G. Benato, and A. Conforti Immunology and Homeopathy. 4. Clinical Studies--Part 2 Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., December 1, 2006; 3(4): 397 - 409. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Bellavite, R. Ortolani, F. Pontarollo, V. Piasere, G. Benato, and A. Conforti Immunology and Homeopathy. 4. Clinical Studies--Part 1 Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., September 1, 2006; 3(3): 293 - 301. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|