Infection models in basic research on homeopathy

The objective of this study was to search for effective agents for the treatment of infections in animals or infected cell lines.

The Homeopathic Basic Research experiments (HomBRex) database (http://www.carstens-stiftung.de/hombrex) on model biological systems in homeopathic research was searched. Eligible experiments were reviewed and analysed.

The database contains 48 eligible experiments published from 1832 to 2009. Causative pathogens were bacteria, fungi, viruses, proto- and metazoa. In the experiments, various parameters were observed and a large set of medicines was investigated. In eight of the 48 experiments, at least one of the investigated medicines was selected according to the similia principle. Nosodes and homeopathic complexes were investigated in 8 and 14 experiments respectively. Mice were the most often used host organisms (13 experiments). In 31 experiments at least one homeopathic medicine was found effective for treatment.

The results of basic research experiments may invigorate new clinical trials that investigate complementary treatments for infectious diseases. However, all experiments reviewed here await replication and no clear-cut conclusion can be drawn regarding the transferability of in vitro results to in vivo outcomes.