title: Hormesis and homeopathy: bridge over troubled waters.
abstract: Homeopathy is an empirical method of treatment. Hormesis, while stemming from within the rationalist tradition, has yet to be explained according to current pharmacological theory. Both share in common sub-threshold doses of toxic substances and an initial semi-toxicological insult followed by a greater compensatory (or healing) response. We question whether the differences between these fields may be amenable to scientific research. We identify five cardinal differences between homeopathy and hormesis: (1) Hormesis is a universal phenomenon, while homeopathy is highly specific; (2) Hormesis uses only measurable quantities of compounds, as opposed to homeopathy, which frequently administers medicines at dilutions far beyond the material range; (3) Preparation of hormetic solutions follows standard laboratory procedure, while homeopathy requires a sequential series of dilutions, each followed by vigorous shaking ('succussion'); (4) The effects of hormesis are moderate and temporary, while homeopathy claims curative and permanent responses and (5) Hormesis is a lab phenomenon observed primarily in healthy organisms, whereas homeopathy is a mode of treatment administered primarily to ailing individuals. We believe that all five of these differences are amenable to scientific investigation, and suggest comparing succussed to non-succussed diluted solutions as an optimal first evaluation. We conclude that while certain differences exist between hormesis and homeopathy, hormesis may in fact be a subset of homeopathy.
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrative Complementary Medicine, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. oberbaum@szmc.org.il
authors.forename: Menachem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oberbaum
authors.forename: Shepherd Roee
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: Noah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Samuels
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010600:Pharmacology / Q000379:methods*; D014116:Toxicology / Q000379:methods*