title: Entanglement model of homeopathy as an example of generalized entanglement predicted by weak quantum theory.
abstract: Homeopathy is scientifically banned, both for lack of consistent empirical findings, but more so for lack of a sound theoretical model to explain its purported effects. This paper makes an attempt to introduce an explanatory idea based on a generalized version of quantum mechanics (QM), the weak quantum theory (WQT). WQT uses the algebraic formalism of QM proper, but drops some restrictions and definitions typical for QM. This results in a general axiomatic framework similar to QM, but more generalized and applicable to all possible systems. Most notably, WQT predicts entanglement, which in QM is known as Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) correlatedness within quantum systems. According to WQT, this entanglement is not only tied to quantum systems, but is to be expected whenever a global and a local variable describing a system are complementary. This idea is used here to reconstruct homeopathy as an exemplification of generalized entanglement as predicted by WQT. It transpires that homeopathy uses two instances of generalized entanglement: one between the remedy and the original substance (potentiation principle) and one between the individual symptoms of a patient and the general symptoms of a remedy picture (similarity principle). By bringing these two elements together, double entanglement ensues, which is reminiscent of cryptographic and teleportation applications of entanglement in QM proper. Homeopathy could be a macroscopic analogue to quantum teleportation. This model is exemplified and some predictions are derived, which make it possible to test the model.
authors.affiliation: Samueli Institute-European Office, Institut für Umweltmedizin und Krankenhaushygiene, Klinikum der Universität, Freiburg i.Br., Germany. walach@ukl.uni-freiburg.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Walach
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006705:Homeopathy; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011789:Quantum Theory; D016896:Treatment Outcome