The in vitro evidence for an effect of high homeopathic potencies--a systematic review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
Systematic assessment of the in vitro research on high potency effects.


METHODS
Publications of experiments were collected through databases, experts, previous reviews, citation tracking.


METHODS
stepwise agitated dilutions <10(-23); cells or molecules from human or animal. Experiments were assessed with the modified SAPEH score.


RESULTS
From 75 publications, 67 experiments (1/3 of them replications) were evaluated. Nearly 3/4 of them found a high potency effect, and 2/3 of those 18 that scored 6 points or more and controlled contamination. Nearly 3/4 of all replications were positive. Design and experimental models of the reviewed experiments were inhomogenous, most were performed on basophiles.


CONCLUSIONS
Even experiments with a high methodological standard could demonstrate an effect of high potencies. No positive result was stable enough to be reproduced by all investigators. A general adoption of succussed controls, randomization and blinding would strengthen the evidence of future experiments.
Witt
Claudia M
CM
Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center, D-10098 Berlin, Germany. claudia.witt@charite.de
Bluth
Michael
M
Albrecht
Henning
H
Weisshuhn
Thorolf E R
TE
Baumgartner
Stephan
S
Willich
Stefan N
SN
D000818:Animals; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006705:Homeopathy; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control; D012107:Research Design
D008419:Materia Medica