The fundamental principle of homeopathy, established by Samuel Hahnemann more than two centuries ago, is the principle of similarity, or cure likes cure [1]. This means that when homeopathic medicines are prescribed based on the similarity of symptoms, they stimulate the body's own defense mechanisms in fighting the pathogen or established disease [3].
Immunology, on the other hand, is the study of the immune system, whose function is to defend the body against infections or diseases and neutralize potentially pathogenic substances [1].
What is the relationship between homeopathy and immunology?
Both fields began developing at the end of the 18th century. The first smallpox vaccines, discovered by British physician Edward Jenner, began to be used at the same time as the German doctor Samuel Hahnemann was conducting his first homeopathic experiments. Both therapeutic methods are based on a very similar hypothesis: the concept of similarity, which means preventing or treating a disease with an agent that is identical or similar to what causes the disease [1].
It is important to note that Hahnemann cites Jenner's clinical experiences in the "Organon." In the sixth edition of this book, dated 1842, he specifies: "remarkably beneficial fact, that since the widespread distribution of Jenner's vaccine, human smallpox has no longer reappeared epidemically and with the virulence of 40-50 years ago, when a city visited by it would lose half, if not two-thirds, of its children to the death caused by this miserable plague" [4].
As is known, a vaccine is produced from the pathogen responsible for the disease to be prevented. Similarly, the homeopathic medicine is identified based on the similarity between the symptoms caused by the subtoxic action of a substance tested in healthy humans and the symptoms of the disease to be treated. From this logic, it is possible to infer that the vaccination technique can be considered an example of isotherapy, being more similar to homeopathic pharmacology than to conventional pharmacology [1].
We can therefore consider immunology as a bridge between homeopathy and conventional medicine, since it is a field where concepts such as the effect of substances administered based on the principle of "similarity" and the great sensitivity of living systems to modulations induced by ultradiluted doses of natural or endogenous substances can be applied [2].
Is there scientific evidence on the action of homeopathic medicines on the immune system?
There are currently several studies using homeopathic medicines under well-defined experimental conditions, with conventionally produced evidence explaining homeopathic phenomena. The current scientific literature contains a series of findings that can provide new insights, improving the understanding of the principle of similarity and the action of highly diluted doses of medicines, particularly in the host immune system [1].
The principle of similarity can operate in various experimental and reproducible conditions. Within the framework of current knowledge of living systems and with modern research techniques, it is possible to reformulate the old principle with the aim of building models that can be tested at different levels, from the cellular level to human beings [1].
Below, we cite some studies that have demonstrated the action of homeopathic medicines on the immune system. In the late 1980s and 1990s, two groups of French researchers carried out studies on how homeopathic medicines could influence the degranulation of mast cells and basophils. They used homeopathic dilutions of Apis mellifica and Lung histaminum, as these are compounds often used in the treatment of allergic syndromes, and they were aware of the ability of some of their molecular components, such as melittin and histamine, respectively, in activating basophils [2].
The studies were based on the hypothesis that, even in homeopathic dilutions, these substances can regulate basophils activated by ponderal doses of an active agent. The first publications describing the effect of these homeopathic medicines demonstrated that, in vitro, the degranulation of mast cells and basophils induced by allergenic components such as dust and house mites was stimulated when the medicines were used in low dilutions, such as the 5C of Apis mellifica (homeopathic centesimal and decimal dilutions), while higher dilutions, such as 9C and 15C, presented an opposite effect.
The inhibition of allergic and inflammatory processes by Histaminum and Apis is particularly interesting because, when released in normal doses to a tissue, both are pro-inflammatory and have irritating properties, which does not occur in the ultradiluted form. This experience illustrates, therefore, the application of the principle of similarity in a model experiment: that is, a substance known to stimulate inflammation in usual doses treats the problem when in ultradiluted doses, confirming that homeopathic medicines act on the immune system [2].
Another example is the study by Patil et al. (2009), which evaluated the immunomodulatory activity of Rhus tox in various dilutions, through in vivo and in vitro experiments. In both models, the effect of Rhus tox dilutions had a stimulating effect according to the concentration. A potent stimulation was observed in both cellular and humoral immune responses in animals treated with Rhus tox. In vitro experiments also demonstrated a stimulation of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemotaxis, which are important phagocytic cells in the mechanisms of natural and acquired immunity against pathogens [5].
In conclusion, the above-cited studies show that homeopathic medicines, in different potencies, can act on bone marrow cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, and PMN cells. They also demonstrate that homeopathic medicines produce modulation of immune function at various levels, as well as acting on the expression of genes that encode receptors and other proteins, and stimulate macrophages, which was evidenced by changes in morphology, increased chemotaxis, and production of cytokines and reactive nitrogen and oxygen species of immune cells. Homeopathic medicines differed from each other regarding the type of cytokines induced in macrophages, suggesting that homeopathic treatment has potential for immunomodulation in specific individual treatments. Additionally, the variation in the action of the homeopathic medicine was also observed among the different homeopathic dilutions used, which corroborates the difference in its action observed at the clinical level [3].
References:
1) BELLAVITE, P. et al. Immunology and Homeopathy. 1. Historical Background. eCAM 2005;2(4)441–452.
2) BELLAVITE, P. et al. Immunology and Homeopathy. 2. Cells of the Immune System and Inflammation. eCAM 2006;3(1)13–24.
3) GUPTA, VK; MATHUR, M. Immunomodulatory effects of homoeopathic medicines: A review of pre‑clinical studies. Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy; Volume 12; Issue 2;April-June 2018.
4) HAHNEMANN, S. Organon da arte de curar. 6 ed.; São Paulo: GEHSP. 2013.
5) PATIL, CR. et al. Immunomodulatory activity of Toxicodendron pubescens in experimental models. Homeopathy (2009) 98, 154–159
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