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Among homeopaths it expresses as a yearning to have homeopathy explained on a materialistic basis. Homeopathy is accepted as a method but the principles that Hahnemann established are ignored or denied. The idea of a non-physical life force is put aside and there is a constant yearning for establishing a materialistic basis for the action of homeopathy. This is what underlies the excitement of so many in the idea that homeopathic remedies act physically in the form of nanoparticles or changes in the structure of water.
Refutation of this hypothesis
The development of nanoparticles or changes in water structure are indeed effects on the liquid being used during the process of making the remedy (dilution and succession). The material we are preparing as a medicine is able, through this process, to have effects that are seen on the physical liquid, in the same way that the remedy has observable effects on our bodies. The remedy changes things. The error is turning it around and saying that the effect is the cause. This only comes about because of the desire for a materialistic explanation.
Why this is not a correct hypothesis —
Black Swan
In logic a way one can refute a hypothesis is by providing an exception. For example, if one says “all swans are
white,” it takes only one black swan to show this is an erroneous statement.
In the same way we can show that embracing of the theories of nanoparticles (remaining physical substance) and of structured water (physical configuration carrying the remedy effect) are erroneous with three black swans.
trituration: Remedies can be made, and are made, not using any water at all. Made with dry powder through grinding the same effect of effectiveness in treatment and increase in potency can be demonstrated in clinical work.
Hahnemann's report of transmission of remedy effects:
Over 200 years ago Hahnemann described experiments in which a single medicated pellet was added to a vial containing unmedicated dry pellets. This vial was then vigorously shaken with the result that the medicinal effect from the one pellet was transferred to all the pellets in the vial. Obviously this bypasses the question of water structure or nanoparticles as being carriers of information.
Benveniste’s experiments:
The research report in which Benveniste reports experimenting with effects of diluted and succussed substance included using ethanol and propanol as diluents with the same effect as using just water. Perhaps one can argue that ethanol and propanol are also organized into information structures, like the water idea, but seems unlikely.
Conclusion
When we come across presentations, excited ones, that imply that finally how homeopathic remedies act medically is explained by a hypothesis like nanoparticle persistence or water structure formation — we see a
wonderful demonstration that for many of us embracing homeopathy we have not really changed our paradigm. When the excited homeopath, subconsciously also holding to this position of non-acceptance of Hahnemann's basic principle of the non-physical life force, encounters the criticism of homeopathy, they find themselves vulnerable to that criticism. It touches their own uncertainty.
Hopefully this presentation will give you the understanding of why we see this resistance to homeopathy and, if so, rather than feeling upset by hearing these things, you will develop a sympathy for these critics. They do not yet know.
Considering this topic also gives us the opportunity to look into ourselves and see where we are coming from in our grasp of Hahnemann's teachings. Divesting ourselves of the holdover of materialism is indeed removing an obstacle to cure.
1 Sarah Boseley, The Guardian, June 29 2010.
2 Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation 1999;14(6):521–542.
3 BBC News UK, June 19, 2006.
4 John Gribbin, Shrödinger’s Kittens and the Search For Reality.
5 John Archibald Wheeler (July 9, 1911 – April 13, 2008) was an
American theoretical physicist.
He was largely responsible for reviving interest in general relativity in the United States after World War II. Wheeler also worked with Niels Bohr in explaining the basic principles behind nuclear fission.
6 Robert Nadeau, Menas Kafatos, The Non-Local Universe, Oxford Press, 1999, page 50.
7 Werner Heisenberg, physicist, developed an abstract model of quantum mechanics, Nobel Prize 1932.
8 Samuel Hahnemann, Organon of the Medical Art, edited and annotated by Wenda Brewster O’Reilly, PhD, Birdcage Books, 1996.
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