Matter, as we all know, stores and also radiates energy. Distilled [most often, double purified] water, or alcohol, the substance used to make homeopathic medicines, or remedies, is also matter — it stores wavelengths. All things produce their own wavelengths, and like a flower, each substance is unique. Research says that not only does water store wave lengths, it also stores some form of memory.
Research in homeopathy suggests that double-distilled water, or alcohol, used in the preparation of homeopathic remedies maintains the memory, or reminiscence, of the substance diluted in it. This can occur even when repeated dilutions of 1:10 or 1:100 exceed the point at which no molecules remain in it.
It is, however, accepted when specific key enzymes, hormones, or tissues are activated, albeit slightly, in all living beings, macroscopic changes can happen. One classical theory that celebrates the idea is the theory of chaos, which states that even minute changes can have massive effects — and, lead to harmonious effects, or outcomes.
Recent research suggests that small doses may be more effective than large doses because of what is called as ‘therapeutic window.’ New studies also state that this is more likely to happen when an individual, or any living being, is in a state of ‘readied excitation,’ or is ‘raring and geared up’ when a specific stimulus triggers a cascading, invasive effect. It may also be said that the homeopathic ‘law of similars’ [like cures like], can provide the essential connect to finding a substance in nature which, when individually prescribed, can trigger this ‘torrent effect.’
Homeopathic research connects potentised medicines to the power of resonance — where a symphony of tiny, small waves creates considerable changes. Call this a sort of natural resonance that effects healing. In homeopathic parlance, this relates to the process of ‘stimulating’ remedial effects of a given medicine in, and on, the body.
There are more than a handful of new theories that explain the mechanism of action of homeopathic potentised medicines. They are in précis —
Hormesis
Dr Edward J Calabrese, PhD, at the University of Massachusetts, US, has worked and contributed extensively on hormesis states. The idea suggests that most, if not all, chemical and physical agents, such as radiation, have the capacity to stimulate biological action at doses below the toxicity threshold levels, or cause toxicity at doses above the threshold.
This has been validated by Arndt-Schulz Law of pharmacology — which explains the beneficial effects of micro-doses of potentially toxic substances used, for example, in homeopathy.
The effects of micro-doses have been known for a long time. There are a number of examples that support the idea — that extremely diluted concentrations of a substance will have a measurable and, sometimes, profound effect.
Hormesis is one such phenomenon.
A research assay at Michigan State University showed how hormesis works in nature. The study used micro-doses of a fertiliser to stimulate crop yield.
In a dose equivalent to the homeopathic 9X dilution, the fertiliser increased tomato yield by 30 per cent, carrot by 21 per cent, and corn by 25 per cent.
Our bodies, as already cited, secrete minute amounts of thyroid hormone, yet this is enough to regulate our metabolism. A minuscule deviation can, likewise, affect the body’s harmonious applecart.
As a matter of fact, animal studies have shown that low doses of certain substances trigger a beneficial response, while high doses may be dangerous.
This outcome has been acknowledged to occur with radiation therapy and antibiotic use too.
Pheromones
A body of research suggests that pheromones — powerful aromatic hormone-like substances that animals secrete to attract a mate — can activate a surge of physical responses. This, they aver, may apply to homeopathic remedies in the body too.
Energy Response
Dr Samuel Hahnemann, MD, the founder of homeopathy, evidenced that succussion and trituration released a spirit-like power, or energy, that worked at the ‘spiritual’ level of our ‘vital force,’ or immunity. Are we not convinced of the power of what was once invisible, immeasurable, unknowable energy forms — electromagnetic radiation and subatomic particles — today?
To look at it all differently. The study of gravity is in no way complete. Scientists are frenetically working to explain gravity, the nature of matter, including the phenomena of ‘strong force’ and ‘weak force.’ Recall how a stronger force, as Dr Hahnemann suggested, can repel and expel a weaker force in his work on homeopathy? When the stimuli are weak, the body responds with minimal, sometimes imperceptible, changes. When the stimuli are strong, the body’s response is often striking.
Homeopathy is akin to energy medicine, so are acupuncture, Reiki, therapeutic touch, and other alternative therapies. We have already touched upon the fact that water has memory. Ayurveda too suggests that water possesses curative powers when it comes in contact with gold and other gemstones, albeit no molecular transfer takes place.
Likewise, the healing power of crystals and magnets emerge through their effects on the energy patterns, or vibration frequencies. By the same token, homeopathic remedies have been suggested to work on the energy plane — providing that gentle, healing touch from deep within.
Molecular Bonding
We are a marvellously adaptive species. We are constantly evolving and also maintaining our balance and harmony of the spheres. This process of acclimatisation is constant. On a warm, hot day, in the tropics, we sweat; and, in extremely cold weather we shiver. The endocrine and nervous systems are primarily involved in mediating the manner in which we make small adjustments — this is called homeostatic equilibrium.
The outcome of such a reaction is presented in the form of ‘symptoms.’
Not all of us — to go back a bit to the previous paragraphs — think that sweating is a symptom. We think of it as the body’s defence mechanism of keeping itself cool. Just think of viral infection. When you have a viral infection, the immune system is activated, antibodies are formed, and symptoms develop. This may include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, headache, body ache and so on.
All of these symptoms represent the body’s efforts to overcome and eliminate the viral infection. They are the body’s natural mode of coping too with stimuli.
Homeopathy uses such symptoms to gently aid the body in its efforts to regain balance and state of health through the application of the ‘law of similars.’
Dr Hahnemann was a pioneer. He thought — though he did not tangibly know in his time — that homeopathic potencies correspond to the natural physiological concentrations found within the body.
It has been shown, in the recent past, that homeopathic potencies/dilutions actually assist the body, and its physiology to reactivate our enzyme and endocrine systems — with our regulatory and biofeedback mechanisms. Homeopathic ‘concentrations’ are also suggested to attach to the receptor sites at the level of cellular membranes, enzymes and neural synapses. You may call this potential energy — that is, energy found within the molecules in the form of molecular bonding to heal us from the inside out.
