Ultra dilutions and crystallization test

Introduction

       Dr. R. Valavan is a young homoeopath and post graduate student doing his final MD (hom) in Homoeopathic Pharmacy at Vinayaka Mission’s Homoeopathic Medical College, Salem.

       Crystallization is the formation of solid crystals from an over saturated homogenous solution. It is essentially a solid-liquid separation technique.1 Any solid dissolved in a liquid can be separated by crystallization. This may be done by evaporating the liquid slowly.

       When a solid substance is dissolved in a liquid, the solid is said to be the solute and the liquid is the solvent. After dissolving the solute into the solvent, the resultant is called the solution.1,2

       If a solution is taken in a plate and the solvent is evaporated slowly and at the end of the crystallization, the solute forms as crystals in the bottom of the plate.3 This crystal pattern is different according to the atomic arrangement of that particular solute, element or compound. Each element or compound produces its own characteristic crystal pattern. This characteristic crystal pattern can be altered, if any material present in the solution other than that particular solute (element or compound).

       Thus, when a few drops of human serum is added with the particular homogenous solution and crystallized, the resultant crystal pattern is altered and is of a specific character. The pattern produced by every healthy individual’s serum is very similar and possess unique appearance. Likewise if a few drops of a particular plant or organic extract is added with the solution, the resultant crystal pattern is different from the human serum. Different plant or organic extract produces its own characteristic crystal pattern.4

       If a few drops of diseased person’s serum is added with the solution, the resultant crystal pattern is different from the healthy person’s serum. Further the pattern differs according to the nature of the disease.
       In the late 1920’s, Ehrenfried Pfeiffer and co-workers had carried out the above experiment with copper chloride solution. They used 5,10 and 20% solutions of copper chloride for their experiments [5% solution = 5 ml of copper chloride salt (solute) dissolved in 100ml of water (solvent)]. Their discovery has proved, copper chloride solution method is the most suitable method in the study of crystallization pattern.5

       The experiment was conducted with serum from patients with various diseases, running into hundreds of patients since 1925. Even without physical examination of a patient they could arrive at exact determination of the disease with the help of these crystal pattern studies. Further, they extended their studies with homoeopathic dilutions and obtained very interesting and useful results.
       The procedure involves addition of a few drops of aqueous homoeopathic dilution to a few drops of the patient’s serum. Determined quantity of 5,10 or 20% copper chloride solution is added to it and mixed thoroughly. The solution is poured on a smooth glass plate, so that the thickness of the prepared solution is about ½ mm. Then the glass plate is kept in the crystallization chamber, which should be vibration free, under controlled temperature and humidity. By this way the preparation is allowed to crystallize between 28°C to 32°C. The crystallization takes about 14-18 hours for completion. After the completion of this process, the crystal patterns can be studied by naked eye and also with microscope.6 Pfeiffer was having a sophisticated laboratory for crystallization test.

       When the indicated homoeopathic medicinal dilution is mixed with the diseased blood serum, then added with copper chloride solution and crystallized, the resultant crystal pattern appears like the healthy serum’s crystal pattern. So the indicated homoeopathic higher dilution is capable to normalize the diseased crystal pattern into normal crystal pattern. If, a homoeopathic dilution mixed with diseased serum produces very abnormal crystal pattern, that indicates, the drug is contra-indicated to that patient.
       So the homoeopathic ultra high dilutions influence the process of crystallization. The arrangement of molecules of the solute present in the solution is altered in a specific manner according to the relationship of that particular drug and patient.
       Apart from this, the experiment helps physicians to arrive at the similimum between drug and patient. Because accuracy and efficiency in homoeopathic therapeutics is only possible to those who have a clearly defined idea of the field in which the principle of similia is operative.7 This method can help in improving the accuracy and efficiency, even there is a confusion in choosing the similimum. Drugs can be selected through the crystallization test, before it is administered in the patients. Pfeiffer and co-workers claim to have successfully treated cases of nervous and mental diseases, asthma, cancer and other disorders by administering medicines in this way.5 By this copper chloride crystallization test we arrive to the following conclusions.

1. The arrangement of molecules of the solute during the process of crystallization is influenced and altered by highly diluted different homoeopathic drugs, which does not contain the molecules of the original drugs in order of the Avagodro’s law. 
2. This experiment permits the testing of remedies-whether they should or should not be employed-before they are tried on patients. 
3. One can select a similar remedy for a patient, where the difficulty arises to choose a most similar remedy among a few, by this method of crystallization test.

       The recent article of Aijing Shang et al challenging the power of homoeopathic remedies, has provoked multiple reactions. Under the circumstance, this paper explains the homoeopathic investigations and scientific treatment of patients on proven facts of this science.
       Also, the author wishes to place in record that homoeopathic medicine is the scientific treatment of diseases, and invites every reader to review the above said article of Aijing Shang and team under this context.
References

1. www.cheresources.com
2. Brice .J.C, ‘Crystal Growth Processes’, Hasted Press, New York, 1986.
3. Peters .E.I, ‘Introduction to chemical principles’, Third edition, Holt - Saunders International editions, 1982.
4. http://www.biodynamics.com
5. Sankaran. P, ‘Elements of Homoeopathy’, Vol-II, edited by Dr. Rajansankaran, Homoeopathic Medical Publishers, Mumbai, 1996, 584-585.
6. Pfeiffer .E, ‘Sensitive Crystallization Processes’, Anthroposophic Press, New York, 1975.
7. Stuart Close, ‘The Genius of Homoeopathy’, B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi, Pp. 37. Reprint edition, 1997.
   
   
   Source: Ultra Dilutions And Crystallization Test, Homoeo Times, December' 05, Vol 2, Issue 12. Available at: http://www.homoeotimes.com/dec%2005/html/valavan-article.htm