Water and Weirdness

The Institute of Science in Society is a not for profit organisation dedicated to providing critical and accessible information to the public and to promoting social accountability and ecological sustainability in science. There are some interesting articles on on their website on a variety of topics including climate change, nanotechnology, holistic health, stem cells, agriculture and much, much more. There are several about the strange behaviour of water and how this could relate to homeopathy. This one is written by Mae-Wan Ho who is a geneticist and also director of ISIS.

Water Remembers? Homeopathy Explained?

New research suggests water remembers what has been dissolved in it, even after dilution beyond the point where no molecule of the original substances could remain.

For more than a century, practitioners of homeopathy have used highly diluted solutions of medicinal substances to treat diseases. Some substances are diluted way beyond the point at which no trace of the original substances could remain. It is as though the water has retained memory of the departed molecules. This has aroused a great deal of scepticism within the conventional medical and scientific community. To this day, ?homeopathic? is used as a term of derision, to indicate something imagined that has no reality.

But a series of recent discoveries in the conventional scientific community is making people think again.

First, there were the South Korean chemists who discovered two years ago that molecules dissolved in water clump together as they get more diluted (see SiS 15), which was totally unexpected; and further more, the size of the clumps depends on the history of dilution, making a mockery of the ?laws of chemistry?.

Now, physicist Louis Rey in Lausanne, Switzerland, has published a paper in the mainstream journal, Physica A, describing experiments that suggest water does have a memory of molecules that have been diluted away, as can be demonstrated by a relatively new physical technique that measures thermoluminescence.

In this technique, the material is ?activated? by irradiation at low temperature, with UV, X-rays, electron beams, or other high-energy sub-atomic particles. This causes electrons to come loose from the atoms and molecules, creating ?electron-hole pairs? that become separated and trapped at different energy levels.

Then, when the irradiated material is warmed up, it releases the absorbed energy and the trapped electrons and holes come together and recombine. This causes the release of a characteristic glow of light, peaking at different temperatures depending on the magnitude of the separation between electron and hole.

As a general rule, the phenomenon is observed in crystals with an ordered arrangement of atoms and molecules, but it is also seen in disordered materials such as glasses. In this mechanism, imperfections in the atomic/molecular lattice are considered to be the sites at which luminescence appears.

Rey decided to use the technique to investigate water, starting with heavy water or deuterium oxide that?s been frozen into ice at a temperature of 77K. The absolute temperature scale (degree K, after Lord Kelvin) is used in science. (The zero degree K is equivalent to ?273 C, and deuterium is an isotope of hydrogen which is twice as heavy as hydrogen).

As the ice warms up, a first peak of luminescence appears near 120K, and a second peak near 166 K. Heavy water gives a much stronger signal than water. In both cases, samples that were not irradiated gave no signals at all.

For both water and heavy water, the relative intensity of the thermoluminescence depends on the irradiation dose. There has been a suggestion that peak 2 comes from the hydrogen-bonded network within ice, whereas peak 1 comes from the individual molecules. This was confirmed by looking at a totally different material that is known to present strong hydrogen bonds, which showed a similar glow in the peak 2 region, but nothing in peak 1.

Rey then investigated what would happen when he dissolved some chemicals in the water and diluted it in steps of one hundred fold with vigorous stirring (as in the preparation of homeopathic remedies), until he reached a concentration of 10 to the power -30 g per centilitre, and compare that to the control that has not had any chemical dissolved in it and diluted in the same way.

The samples were frozen and activated with irradiation as usual.

Much to his surprise, when lithium chloride, LiCl, a chemical that would be expected to break hydrogen bonds between water molecules was added, and then diluted away, the thermoluminescent glow became reduced, but the reduction of peak 2 was greater relative to peak 1. Sodium chloride, NaCl, had the same effect albeit to a lesser degree.

It appears, therefore, that substances like LiCl and NaCl can modify the hydrogen-bonded network of water, and that this modification remains even when the molecules have been diluted away.

http://www.vhan.nl/documents/Rey.thermoluminescence.pdf

The fact that this ?memory? remains, in spite of, or because of vigorous stirring or shaking at successive dilutions, indicates that the ?memory? is by no means static, but depends on a dynamic process, perhaps a collective quantum excitation of water molecules that has a high degree of stability (see "The strangeness of water and homeopathic memory", SiS 15).

Evening Class in Settle

Homeopathy Evening Class
at Gateway to Health in Settle


Castle Hill, behind Lloyds Bank, BD24 9EU

Monday 29th March 7-9pm

There has been a lot of unfounded negative press about homeopathy recently. Much of this focuses on the controversial subject of dilution of remedies and whether it is ?just a placebo?. I will talk about some of the positive homeopathic research on humans, plants, animals and cells that never seem to make it to the media.


You can also learn how remedies are made, about the strange behaviour of water and some of the current theories about the action of homeopathic remedies.


I?ll be there from 6pm and will provide some simple food so people can come straight from work.


Each class is self contained so people can drop in rather than commit to a long course. Subsequent subjects will be up to the group to choose but could include topics such as sports injuries, hayfever, family first aid or colds and flu.


Special Easter Offer the cost will be £5 and includes handouts, drinks and, of course, food. If you want to come along please let me know so I have enough goodies for everybody.

0800 2980701 or 07932 159099
jo@jorhodeshomeopathy.co.uk

Ghandi Quotes

Ghandi is always a good source of thought provoking quotes and one in particular has been on my mind recently. The huge amount of anti-homeopathy articles in the media reminded me of this.


First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.


So, hopefully, we're not far from winning.


This is another great Ghandi quote which Dan Ullman came across

Plants and Fungi in Homeopathy

This is a fantastic area on the Natural History Museum website. There is some excellent information and pictures of hundreds of plants and fungi as well as lichens and algae used in homeopathic remedies.

This is the work of Vilma Bharatan who is a botanist at the NHM.

Plants and Fungi in Homeopathy pages

Gelsemium Sempervirens

The homeopathic remedy Gelsemium is
often used to treat the symptoms of flu

Science and Technology Evidence Check

The UK government has recently had their Science and Technology Committee look at evidence for homeopathy. There have been concerns that some of the people on the committee were known critics of homeopathy, or had strong connections with groups who were, and so a fair and balanced report is unlikely to be the outcome.

The Liberal Democrat Science spokesman, Dr Evan Harris is a known supporter of Sense About Science, an organisation which is publicly extremely critical of homeopathy. Dr Harris was recently filmed making a speech at an anti-homeopathy 'mass overdose' stunt. He made derogatory comments about Dr Peter Fisher who is director of the London Homeopathic Hospital, and also incidentally, homeopath to the Queen. Hardly an impartial and unbiased act for an MP on a committee listening to evidence on the subject. Dr Harris by criticising a fellow doctor is clearly in breach of Articles 46 and 47 of the General Medical Council?s Guidelines for Good Medical Practice.

Article 46. You must treat your colleagues fairly and with respect. You must not bully or harass them, or unfairly discriminate against them by allowing your personal views to affect adversely your professional relationship with them. You should challenge colleagues if their behaviour does not comply with this guidance.

Article 47. You must not make malicious and unfounded criticisms of colleagues that may undermine patients' trust in the care or treatment they receive, or in the judgement of those treating them.

Voice of (not so young) homeopathy blog for the video of Dr Harris addressing the crowd at the 'mass overdose'


The choice of people who gave oral evidence to the committee seems a bit odd. Dr Peter Fisher is the only doctor using homeopathy who was questioned. Dr David Reilly from the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital is regarded as a leading expert on this subject and should have been called. The Society of Homeopaths, the principal organisation representing non-medical homeopaths did not have the opportunity to speak. At least three people chosen to speak have affiliations or sympathies with Sense About Science, an organisation which has no advisors who are experts in the field of homeopathy.

Government policy should be informed by the performance of homeopathy in the real world with real patients, and it is seen to perform there extremely well - providing cost effective and successful treatment to tens of thousands of patients who have not been helped by conventional medicine. An audit by the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital looking at over 6500 patients and 23,000 appointments over a 6 year period showed 70% of patients reported their health improved after treatment. The reports from the homeopathic hospitals were never discussed as part of the Evidence Check.

The NHS budget for homeopathy comprises just 0.004% of the total NHS budget and the annual bill for homeopathic medicines is just £157,000. Compare this with the NHS drugs bill for pharmaceutical products of £11 billion. Incidentally, the NHS expects to pay out over £4.4 billion in compensation and negligence claims this year.

Observational study Bristol Homeopathic Hospital. Over 23,000 patient attendances in a 6-year period, 70% of patients reported improved health, 50% major improvement of wide range of conditions.

Spence DS, Thompson EA, Barron SJ (2005). Homeopathic treatment for chronic disease: a 6-year university-hospital outpatient observational study. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 11:793-798.

Homeopathy Evening Class

I am starting a regular evening class to talk in more depth about various aspects of homeopathy and related subjects. Classes will be on the last Monday evening of each month and held at the Gateway to Health clinic in Settle which can be found in the courtyard behind LloydsTSB.


The first class will be on Monday 22nd February 7 to 9pm. I will be there from 6pm and will provide some simple food so people can come straight from work. Each session costs £10 and will include handouts, drinks and, of course, food. The idea is that each class will be self contained so people can drop in rather than commit to a long course.


First session will be about the history of homeopathy and some of the colourful characters involved in its development. Second session on 29th March will show you how to make your own remedies and also to talk about the controversy of dilutions and the strange behaviour of water. Subsequent subjects will be up to the class to choose but could include topics such as treating family pets with homeopathy, hayfever, family first aid or colds and flu.


For more information or to book up please contact me

0800 298 0701 or 07932 159099
jo@jorhodeshomeopathy.co.uk
www.jorhodeshomeopathy.co.uk

Dilutions and Avagadro

The critics of homeopathy are always going on about Avogadro's number, which is 6.022 x 10 to the power 23. I wonder how many of them actually understand it.

So here is a very simple explanation of what it is all about. Armedeo Avagadro in 1811 hypothesised that 'Equal volumes of ideal or perfect gases, at the same temperature and pressure, contain the same number of particles, or molecules'. What he meant was that the same volume of a gas, whether it is hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen or anything else, will contain the same number of molecules if the temperatures and pressures are the same. This is Avogadro's Law.


Long after he died other scientists recognised what an important contribution he had made and the Avogadro Constant is named after him but the concept of the mole to which it refers was not known in his lifetime.

Now for a basic chemistry lesson, so pay attention.

One mole of a substance is the molecular weight in grams of that substance, so hydrogen has a molecular weight of 1, so 1 g is 1 mole of hydrogen, carbon has a molecular weight of 12 and so 12g of carbon is 1 mole.

One mole of a substance will always contain the same number of elemental particles (usually atoms or molecules) and that number will be 6.022 x 10 to the power 23, this can also be written as 602 200 000 000 000 000 000 000 particles, which is an awful lot of particles.

Are you still with me? The problem sceptics have is that homeopathic remedies are very diluted. A 12c homepathic remedy is technically a dilution of 1 x 10 to the power 24, and so larger than Avogadro's Constant so there should be none of the original particles still present. What the sceptics always seem to forget, or ignore, is that homeopathic remedies are not just diluted, they are also shaken vigorously between each dilution which is a process known as succussion.

There is a whole branch of science looking at the peculiar properties of ultra diluted solutions and there is absolutely no doubt that there are many scientific peer reviewed published papers which demonstrate that a substance which has been diluted and shaken is still measurable way beyond the point that it should be. There have been positive experiments using a whole host of different analytical techniques and the laws of physics and chemistry cannot currently explain why these ultra diluted and shaken substances can still be measured.

One of the key papers on this subject is by the physicist Dr Louis Rey, he used very diluted and shaken solutions of lithium chloride and sodium chloride and then analysed them using a technique called thermoluminescence. It showed conclusively that very dilute solutions were measurable when they were diluted beyond the point there should be any particles present.

http://www.vhan.nl/documents/Rey.thermoluminescence.pdf

and there is much more evidence in plant and biological systems too.

Homeopathy ( http://www.elsevier.com/locate/homp) is the journal for the Faculty of Homeopathy which has recently published a two part special issue focusing on biological models of homeopathy. The special issue highlights experiments on homeopathic treatments in biological models, ranging from whole animals and plants to cell cultures and enzymes, showing a remarkable range of findings.

Editor-in-Chief Dr Peter Fisher commented: ?Throughout its 200 year history claims that homeopathy has ?real? (as opposed to placebo) effects have been hotly contested. Our special issue brings together a wide range of scientific work in biological systems, where there can be no placebo effect, showing that there are now several biological experiments which yield consistently positive results with homeopathic dilutions?.

Visit www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/14754916 for full contents and abstracts

Sceptic stunt

The sceptics 'overdose' stunt is in the news.

This is a statement from the Society of Homeopaths, the largest organisation registering professional homeopaths in Europe, in response to the1023 stunt.

http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/

For a very good overview of the current research and evidence for homeopathy have a look at the website of the British Homeopathic Association which is the organisation for medically trained homeopaths working within the NHS.

http://www.britishhomeopathic.org/

Homeopathy is a system of medicine which is based on treating the individual with highly diluted substances given in mainly tablet form, which triggers the body?s natural system of healing. Based on their experience of their symptoms, a homeopath will match the most appropriate medicine to the patient.

Since homeopathy is person specific, the action of a remedy cannot be predicted without knowing the patient?s symptoms at the time they take it.

This is one reason why The Society recommends that prescriptions are taken under the guidance of an appropriately qualified and registered homeopath (see www.homeopathy-soh.org for more details).

Over-the-counter homeopathic medicines should only be used as directed on the labeling. Proving guidelines for determining which homeopathic medicines are suitable for which disease focus more on the repetition of a dose rather than a large single dose in isolation.

The Society would not therefore expect any reaction to the proposed ?overdose? by this group unless, by chance, an individual in that group already had symptoms that matched that remedy at the time of taking it.

Winter Newsletter and Evening Class

The winter newsletter is now available. If you would like to receive a copy, either by post or email, then email or call me.

I am starting a regular evening class in Settle to talk in more depth about various aspects of homeopathy and related subjects. Classes will be on the last Monday of each month and held at the Gateway to Health clinic in Settle.

The first class will be on Monday 22nd February from 7-9pm. I will be there from 6pm and will provide some simple vegetarian food so people can come straight from work. Each session costs £10 and will include handouts, drinks and, of course, food. The idea is that each class will be self contained so people can drop in rather than commit to a long course.

The first session will be about the history of homeopathy and some of the colourful characters involved in its development.

Clinic Move

The Gateway to Health Clinic has now moved, but not very far. From January 2010 we have relocated to larger premises off Castle Hill in the centre of Settle. The new clinic is in a courtyard just behind LloydsTSB bank which is in the Market Square. New address is Gateway to Health, Castle Hill, Settle, North Yorkshire, BD24 9EU.

To celebrate the move we will be having an Open Day on Sunday 14th February 10am to 2pm. This will be an informal event where visitors can come and have a look around the building and meet some of the therapists. As there is space for more practioners we now offer Homeopathy and Flower Remedies, Acupuncture, Tai Chi and Chi Kung, Reflexology, Emotional Freedom Technique, Holistic Massage, Shiatsu, Person Centred Counselling and Life Coaching.

The Open Day is the same day as the Farmers Market in Settle so why not come over and make a day of it. Unfortunately, due to family commitments down south I am unable to be there.

http://www.gatewaytohealth.co.uk/

Dana Ullman Blog

Dana Ullman is an eminent homeopath and writer. His book, The Homeopathic Revolution, talks about some of the key characters involved in the development of homeopathy and the many famous people who have used it over the years.


Several well known characters have been helped by homeopathy including Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, many members of the Royal family, several US presidents, a multitude of scientists, actors, sporting personalities, singers and politicians but for some reason these homeopathic connections often disappear when biographies are written.


Dana has started to write a regular blog on the Huffington Post website, these articles are thought provoking and informative and certainly well worth a read.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman


Huffington Post is an online internet only newspaper which offers coverage of politics, media, business, entertainment, living, style, the green movement, world news, and comedy, and is a top destination for news, blogs and original content.


If you would like to know more about Dana's book or his writing in general have a look at www.homeopathicrevolution.com which also has articles on various homeopathy related stories and news.

Homeopathy Day in Settle

I will be running an introductory course to talk about some commonly used homeopathic remedies. The aim of the course is to give you the confidence to be able to treat friends and family safely and effectively for first aid and minor ailments.

This will not be a lecture where I talk at you for hours, I would like people to share their experiences of homeopathic treatment and learn from each other as well as from me.

Saturday 3^rd October 10 am until 4 pm

Quaker Meeting House, Kirkgate, Settle

Cost £20 for the day, handouts will be provided

Hot and cold drinks will be available but

please bring some food to share for lunch

To book up or for more information

call me on 0800 2980701 or 07932 159099

or email jo@jorhodeshomeopathy.co.uk

I know not everyone can make a course on a Saturday so I can repeat the course later in the year over two evening sessions if there is enough interest.

Homeopathy Awareness Week 14th-21st June

This year the focus of Homeopathy Awareness Week is on hay fever and advice will be available for those looking for an alternative to conventional medication. During this time homeopaths around the country will be handing out information and answering questions about homeopathy in many pharmacies, health shops and other locations.

Many people suffer with hay fever all summer and either don?t want to take anti-histamines over such a long period, or struggle with side effects. There are a number of research trials into the use of homeopathic remedies which have shown significant improvement in hay fever symptoms.

Each year I work at one or two festivals for the Travelling Homeopaths Collective who provide homeopathic first aid clinics for festival goers. About 60% of the people who come to us have problems with hay fever so I have seen first hand how effective homeopathic treatment can be for this problem.

Listed below are some common remedies for hay fever. Homeopathy treats the individual so you need to consider whether any of these remedies sound relevant for you. They should be readily available in your local chemist or health food shop.

Euphrasia this is a fantastic remedy made from the plant Eyebright where eye symptoms are the most distressing. Itching, burning and puffy eyes with watery nasal discharge. Eyes feel much worse in sunlight and windy weather. Feels worse indoors.

Allium Cepa this is a remedy made from onion. In homeopathy like cures like so if you think about how you feel if you chop up a strong onion you can see how this could be useful for hay fever. There is a streaming, watery discharge from eyes and nose, the nasal discharge may be burning, may also be sneezing ? better in open air, much worse indoors.

Arsenicum burning, watery, discharge from eyes and nose, feels chilly, thirsty but may want hot water or frequent sips of cold water, often there is also some anxiety or restlessness.

Nux Vomica lots of sneezing, streaming eyes and nose, itching in ears, very grumpy and irritable, general over sensitivity to light, smells and noise.

If you would like to have a chat in person I will be in the Gateway to Health Clinic in Settle on Monday 15th and Friday 19th June. There will be free, home made cake!

I will also be in the shop at Growing with Grace in Clapham on Thursday 18th and Saturday 20th and will be around on Saturday 13th June at their Summer Open Day.

I have started to produce a quarterly newsletter with short articles on homeopathy and related topics. If you would like to receive a copy please call or email me.

Homeopathy Awareness Week

June 14th to 21st 2008

Approximately one in four of the UK population will suffer from an allergy at some point in their lives, according to the British Allergy Foundation, and the number of people affected is increasing by five per cent each year. So this year, Homeopathy Awareness Week is focused on helping those who suffer from allergies including hayfever, perennial rhinitis and even food intolerances.

This year?s events for will highlight how homeopathic remedies can not only tackle the symptoms when they happen, but by triggering the body?s own system of healing, can help to stop the symptoms occurring in the first place.

During Homeopathy Awareness Week homeopaths around the country will be available in shops, pharmacies and other venues to answer your questions about homeopathy and how it might be able to help you and your family.

I will be in the shop at Growing with Grace, Clapham (look out for the carrots on A65!)

Saturday 14^th, Thursday 19^th and Saturday 21^st June from 10am-5pm

Also at Gateway to Health in Settle

Monday 16^th and Friday 20^th June from 12-5pm