Homeopathy - Energetic Medicine - applied Quantumphysics
Can quantum mechanics explain homeopathy?
Homeopaths are quick to evoke physics in their defense. I’m guessing they actually believe there is a connection and there is an added bonus of using words like “Newtonian” and “quantum” to add an air of science and respect.
Recently a homeopath taught Anthropology students at the University of Toronto that quantum physics could explain homeopathy. I decided to ask Andrew Robinson, PhD, CPhys, MinstP to address this. He is a spectroscopist, nanoscale scientist, instrumentation developer and teaches physics at Carleton University – so yeah, he’s got this.
This is what Dr. Robinson had to say:
Around 1900 physicists felt they had conquered the physical world – they had mastered mechanics, thermodynamics was well established, and electricity and magnetism had been successfully linked together showing that light (and all electromagnetic radiation) could be treated mathematically as a wave. However, there were a stubborn number of irregularities and anomalous results which could not be explained by this “classical” physics. Investigation of these irregularities lead to two significant new fields:
Relativity, where objects travel at very high speed, a significant fraction of the speed of light.
Quantum Physics, where interactions at the atomic and molecular level are completely different from those where we have large collections of atoms and molecules.
It is important to know that neither of these new fields invalidates the “classical” physics of Newton. One of the cardinal rules of both quantum physics and relativistic physics is that they must revert back to classical behaviour when looking at large enough or slow enough systems respectively.
Quantum physics explains the interaction of light with matter by breaking the wave down into a stream of particles (this is known as wave particle duality). Each of these particles, known as a photon, carries a packet of energy. But these particles also have wavelike properties, (a wavelength) and so when a whole stream of particles acts, it can be through of as a wave. In some branches of physics, such as optics, it is vastly more convenient to describe light as a ray for most of the time, but physicists never overlook the fact that inside that wave description, there is a stream of particles.
Quantum physics or quantum mechanics?
Quantum physics is really a description of what happens when a single photon hits a single atom. It can be extended to a few photons hitting a few atoms, but once a large number of atoms are involved, it becomes a “classical” physics system. The rules of quantum physics are known as quantum mechanics. They are mentally challenging to grasp, and to apply, because they are often counterintuitive. However, they work! Our modern world is full of quantum systems which we have built because of our understanding of quantum mechanics. Lasers, solar cells, the transistor and modern silicon chips are all possible because of it.
So what about homeopathy?
According to homeopathic postulates medicine becomes MORE effective the more it is diluted. That’s clearly counterintuitive. In fact, the levels of dilution used in homeopathy mean that given the small quantities of original substance, there is essentially nothing left after it has been diluted many times. Anyone with some basic knowledge of chemistry can demonstrate that very handily.
Practitioners of homeopathy then say that the diluted fluid is “retaining a memory” of the space originally occupied by the substance. This violates the third law of thermodynamics – Disorder tends to a maximum. No controlled scientific experiment has found evidence of any type of “molecular” memory in solvents such as water. They just do not retain that level of order. In fact, the established scientific model, is that the atoms and molecules in a liquid are moving with essentially random motion. This is known as Brownian motion, and Einstein was the first person to describe this in a mathematical manner.
Quantum physics as far from homeopathic medicines as you can get – a homeopathic medicine is a liquid, and not a suitable candidate system for the application of quantum mechanics.
Statistical thermodynamics, which is an offshoot of classical mechanics is the tool of choice for a physicist in those cases. Invoking mysterious “quantum” effects, without any proof of their existence and ignoring the colossal body of scientific evidence against homeopathic effects, is simply not good science. The sceptical and inquiring mind must be satisfied at some point, that they simply will not fit in with established scientific knowledge.
Any good scientist will acknowledge that there are still large gaps in our knowledge in some areas, such as gravitational waves, dark energy, and dark matter. But we do have a good enough knowledge of the working of the universe to rule out homeopathic medicine as having any effect, other than as a placebo. A “balanced” view is not necessary in this case. The scientific case is utterly overwhelming.
***
Ok, back to me.
So there you have it. Homeopathy is quantum snake oil. The foundation of homeopathy violates the third law of thermodynamics. By evoking quantum mechanics homeopaths are actually demonstrating how little they know.
This knowledge deficit is not surprising given the small amount of physics homeopaths must learn (and no, that clearly doesn’t make their knowledge stronger). In Ontario, Canada homeopaths spend 4 days a month in class and their diploma takes three years. In my first year of university (undergraduate) I spent 4.5 days a week in classes. In addition, every one of my professors had a PhD.
When a homeopath uses quantum mechanics incorrectly – when that information actually exists in a syllabus in a University level course – it is embarrassing and insulting to the Department of Physics as well as the entire faculty and student body. Failure of the University of Toronto to address this concern only compounds these issues.
The President, Vice President and Provost should care that they paid someone to incorrectly teach the laws of physics, unless of course they really wanted to add some balance to the second law of thermodynamics.
If you want to read more from the awesome Andrew Robinson, PhD, CPhys, MinstP follow him @AndrewR_Physics@ and read his super smart blog Precarious Physicist
An earlier version incorrectly stated that homeopathy violates the 2nd law of thermodynamics, it actually violates the 3rd. The fact that only a PhD in physics caught that typo is further proof that only those with degrees in the field really understand it!
Homeopathy - applied Quantumphysics
(PDF Available) · April 2016
Karin Lenger
Conference: International Discussion Meeting Förster Resonance Energy Transfer in life sciences, At Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry,Göttingen, Germany, Volume: 1 Page
Abstract
Homeopathy – Applied Quantumphysics Lenger Karin, Institute for Scientific Homeopathy, Kaiserstr.28, D-63065 Offenbach dr.karin.lenger@t-online.de Until now it hasn’t been possible to explain the fundamental principles of homeopathy. It can be clarified since Lenger’s detection of magnetic photons in homeopathic remedies with frequencies in the MHz-region by the two magnetic resonance methods: the Tesla-flatcoil system [1] and delayed luminescence using a modified photomultiplier [2, 4]. Separation of photons from their carrier substance ethanol or saccharose globules took place when the measuring system has a bigger resonating frequency field than the field between carrier substance and photons. The potency levels were measurable by the number of photons [2, 4] and/or by the characteristic size of the magnetic frequency field separating the photons in dependence on the potency level and on the type of potentized substance [1]; the results showed that the necessary strength of the magnetic frequency field increases with increasing potencies. Frequency spectra were obtained by stimulating the remedy by one of their resonance frequencies, and then the frequency spectrum of the other ones can be uptaken. Finally it was possible to identify six unknown remedies with their potency levels by applying delayed luminescence [4]. The obtained results [1,2,4] link to the fundamental principles of homeopathy: the law of similars (Hahnemann 1796): the frequencies of the patient must match the frequencies of the remedy to get in resonance; concerning the production of remedies: a substance has e.g. a frequency I in the visible region of light; its potentized homeopathic remedy prepared by dilution and succussion creates additional frequencies e.g. II, III, IV, V till to the MHz region; provings to get a symptom picture: a healthy person is poisoned by a substance with frequency I and creates more frequencies II, III, IV, V , as well as an ill body and psychological symptoms; a sick person: he/she has symptoms as if he/she was poisoned by the substance with the frequency I and developed the frequencies II, III, IV,V; healing: it means to take the potentized remedy with the frequencies I, II, III, IV, V. to get in resonance with the ill making frequencies of the pathological pathways which have the bigger resonating magnetic field to attract the photons from their carrier substance: This is an application of the same principle of Lenger’s measuring methods [1,2,4[. Resonance takes place: the ill making frequencies of the patient are attenuated or the amplitude is enhanced. Firstly healing takes place on the energy level, then on the biochemical level. Förster told that chemical reactions occur only in excited states. As Lenger had shown [3, 5] healing can be achieved by using the photons of potentized substrates, enzymes, receptors and its inhibitors of the pathological pathways. It is concluded that homeopathy is a regulation therapy healing both by resonance effect: hyperfunction and hypofunction of a pathological pathway and simultaneously psychological symptoms, because body and consciousness are treated as one which is in agreement that homeopathy is a holistic medicine. This confirms F.A.Popp’s quantumphysical theory about life and illness: a normal living organism has an energy level of about 50% excited states by the uptake and emission of photons. Illness means the uptake of too many photons or the emission of too many photons[6,7].The detection of magnetic photons enables an explanation of the principles of homeopathy. [1] Lenger K.,Homeopathic potencies identified by a new magnetic resonance method. Homeopathy-an energetic medicine. Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine, 15, No. 3:225-243, 2006. [2] Lenger K. et.al.,Delayed luminescence of high homeopathic potencies on sugar globuli. Homeopathy; 97, 134-140, 2008 [3] Lenger K.,A new biochemical of homeopathic efficacy in patients with chronic diseases.Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine, 19(3), 9-41, 2010. [4] Lenger K. et al.Identification of unknown homeopathic remedies by delayed luminescence. Cell Biochem. Biophys , 68; 321-334, 2014. [5] Lenger K, Lang Günter,Photons detected by magnetic resonance are efficious in homeopathy. A critical review. OA Alternative Medicine, 2(1):4, 2014. [6] F.A. Popp Biophotonen-Neue Horizonte in der Medizin, Haug-Verlag, MVS, Stuttgart, 2006. [7] Bischof Marco, Biophotonen, Das Licht in unseren Zellen, Zweitausendeins, Frankfurt a. M.1996
HOMEOPATHIC POTENCIES IDENTIFIED BY A NEW MAGNETIC RESONANCE METHOD: Homeopathy—An Energetic Medicine
Figure 1. Top: Tesla coils generating longitudinal waves at 6.9 ±0,1 MHz combined with generator and spectrum analyzer. Bottom: Tesla coils generating longitudinal waves at 2.06 ±0,1 MHz combined with generator and… Continue Reading
Figure 2. Top: The electric and magnetic field in dependence of the radius (cm) of the Tesla coils generating longitudinal waves at 6.9 ± 0.1 MHz. Bottom: The electric and magnetic field in dependence of the radius (cm… Continue Reading
Figure 3. Homeopathic potencies attenuating the current (µA/m) by increasing Voltages at 6.83 MHz.
Figure 4. Top: Frequency spectrum(4.770-4.772 MHz) of Bovista CMf, excited by 2.06 MHz, a different resonance frequency of its own spectrum. Bottom: Frequency spectrum (2.0592- 2.0608 MHz) of Bovista CW Bovista CMf as a… Continue Reading
Figure 5. Frequency spectra (6.85-6.95 MHz) of Argentum metallicum CMf, of Cantharis CMf and of placebo (sugar globuli) excited by 2.06 MHz, a different resonance frequency of their individual spectrum.
Table I
Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2016
Is quantum entanglement in homeopathy a reality?
Peter Fisher
The most controversial suggestion to emerge concerning the action of homeopathic medicines in recent years is that they act non-locally, through ‘quantum entanglement’. Quantum mechanics (QM) accurately predicts counterintuitive phenomena including quantum entanglement. Quantum entanglement occurs when subatomic particles are generated or interact in such a way that the quantum state of each particle cannot be described independently. Instead, the quantum state of the whole system must be considered.
The implication is that subatomic particles with a common origin remain ‘entangled’, so that anything done to one particle instantaneously influences the other entangled particles, even when they have travelled enormous distances from their common origin. This was famously described as ‘spooky action at a distance’, by Albert Einstein, who never fully accepted quantum theory. But such entanglement has been repeatedly experimentally demonstrated at a microscopic scale.
Homeopathy (2013) 102, 106e113 ! 2013 The Faculty of Homeopathy
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2013.02.006, available online at http://www.sciencedirect.com
ORIGINAL PAPER
A quantum-like model of homeopathy clinical trials: importance of in situ randomization and unblinding
http://www.homeopathicresearch.eu/EN/Beauvais2013.Quantum%20Model.pdf
Francis Beauvais*
91, Grande Rue, 92310 Sevres, France
Background: The randomized controlled trial (RCT) is the ‘gold standard’ of modern clinical pharmacology. However, for many practitioners of homeopathy, blind RCTs are an inadequate research tool for testing complex therapies such as homeopathy. Methods: Classical probabilities used in biological sciences and in medicine are only a special case of the generalized theory of probability used in quantum physics. I describe homeopathy trials using a quantum-like statistical model, a model inspired by quantum physics and taking into consideration superposition of states, non-commuting observ- ables, probability interferences, contextuality, etc.
Results: The negative effect of blinding on success of homeopathy trials and the ‘smearing effect’ (‘specific’ effects of homeopathy medicine occurring in the placebo group) are described by quantum-like probabilities without supplementary ad hoc hy- potheses. The difference of positive outcome rates between placebo and homeopathy groups frequently vanish in centralized blind trials. The model proposed here suggests a way to circumvent such problems in masked homeopathy trials by incorporating in situ randomization/unblinding.
Conclusion: In this quantum-like model of homeopathy clinical trials, success in open- label setting and failure with centralized blind RCTs emerge logically from the formalism. This model suggests that significant differences between placebo and homeopathy in blind RCTs would be found more frequently if in situ randomization/unblinding was used. Homeopathy (2013) 102, 106e113.
Keywords: Quantum probabilities; Entanglement; Contextuality; Non-local interactions
“Inexplicable observations are not always signs of the supernatural”
John Maddox1
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