Investigating homeopathic preparations with light spectroscopy

Background Several series of experiments from our research group have shown ultraviolet (UV) light transmission of homeopathic preparations to slightly but significantly differ from controls. We now investigated whether visible and near infrared spectroscopy were also useful for exploring properties of homeopathic preparations. Materials and methods Homeopathic preparations of copper sulfate (CuSO4), hypericum and sulfur (S8) were produced in 30 sequential steps of 1:100 dilutions (c-preparations). As controls, succussed potentization medium was used. Transmission of the samples from 190-1100nm was measured 4 times on 5 days with a double beam Shimadzu UV PC 1601 spectrophotometer. To correct for the daily variations of the spectrophotometer, transmission of the samples at each nm was divided by the average transmission of the controls. Median transmissions of the samples were calculated for the ranges of 190-340nm (near and middle UV), 340-640nm (visible light without red), and 640-1100nm (red and near infrared). Differences in the median transmission between potency levels from 6c to 30c were determined using Kruskal-Wallis and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests. Results Differences in transmissions of the various potency levels were more pronounced in the UV range than in the visible or red/near infrared range. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences for homeopathic preparations of CuSO4, hypericum and S8 in the UV range (p=0.032, 0.008, 0.009, respectively) and of S8 in the visible range (p=0.026). Jonckheere's test showed a tendency towards ascending medians with ascending potency levels for CuSO4 in the UV range (p=0.080). Significant trends were revealed for hypericum in the visible range (p=0.042, descending medians) and S8 in the UV range (p=0.015, ascending medians). Conclusion UV spectroscopy seemed to be more suitable for investigating homeopathic preparations than visible or near infrared spectroscopy, since differences in transmission were more pronounced in the UV range.

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Report of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Workshop on Near Infrared Spectroscopy

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.91.2.414 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 91 (2) ◽

pp. 414-417

Author(s):

Deborah G. Hirtz

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Oxygen Saturation ◽

Cytochrome Oxidase ◽

Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Neurological Disorders ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Arterial Oxygen ◽

Infrared Range ◽

Near Infrared Range

A workshop about near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), an emerging technology used to measure cerebral oxygenation and blood flow, was sponsored by the Developmental Neurology Branch, Division of Convulsive, Developmental, and Neuromuscular Disorders of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, MD, on March 31 and April 1, 1992. This was an international work-shop designed to bring together experts in the development of this technology with clinical researchers. Topics covered included the history and background of the development of NIRS technology, experimental models for the use of NIRS, clinical experience with NIRS in the neonate and the intrapartum fetus, and current key research issues with regard to technology and clinical use. THE TECHNOLOGY Near infrared spectroscopy is a new application of an existing technology which can provide information about changes in cerebral oxygen saturation, cerebral blood flow and volume, and oxygen utilization in the brain. The technology has been used for a long time to monitor hemoglobin, but only more recently for cytochrome oxidase. It involves the same basic principle used in the pulse oximeter, which uses light in the visible range to detect changes in finger arterial oxygen saturation. The method is based on the fact that light in the near infrared range (700 to 1000 nm) can pass through skin, bone, and other tissues relatively easily and that there are characteristic absorption bands of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin, and of the mitochondrial enzyme cytochrome oxidase (or cytochrome AA3) in the near infrared range. When the near infrared beam is passed through tissue, a decrease in signal intensity results from the absorbance of the chromophores in the medium.

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