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Quasi-quantum phenomena and homeopathy
Homeopathy (2010) 99, 89 Ó 2010 The Faculty of Homeopathy doi:10.1016/j.homp.2010.02.006, available online at http://www.sciencedirect.com
EDITORIAL
Quasi-quantum phenomena and homeopathy Possible relationships between homeopathy and non-local phenomena in physics have been discussed in ‘‘Homeopathy’’ several times in recent years. ‘‘Weak Quantum Theory’’ has been the starting point in all cases.1–5 Weak Quantum Theory however, is a theoretical instrument which is not understood by many readers of ‘‘Homeopathy’’. Thus an argument on a more macroscopic scale is very welcome, as it is easier to understand. The paper ‘‘Quasi-Quantum Phenomena: the Key to Understanding Homeopathy’’ by the Polish Professor of chemistry Marcin Molski, in this issue, offers such an argument.6 Clearly the constituents of the homeopathic process, remedy preparation and therapy, are mostly on a macroscopic scale while non-local phenomena like entanglement in quantum physics belong to a microscopic one. Now, Molski introduces a new class of what he calls ‘‘quasi-quantum phenomena’’ and demonstrates that these phenomena may be the missing link between micro- and macro-levels of matter organization. So far quasi-quantum phenomena don’t have anything to do with homeopathy in his reasoning. The striking argument is his use of a known formal system, here a Gompertzian system,* to describe features of quasi-quantum phenomena. He goes on to show the compatibility of that specific system with the principles of homeopathy. In order to show this relationship Molski uses some features and properties of Gompertzian systems which are explained in short in the Appendix. Readers who are not trained in mathematical methods of theoretical physics and/or chemistry will have to take this on trust. The author’s argument linking homeopathy and quasiquantum phenomena goes like this. If crystallization and its reciprocal process of dissolution belong to the class of quasi-quantum non-local coherent phenomena the following link to homeopathy exists: the molecules of the remedy prepared in the process of dilution of the active substance are interconnected at-a-distance by non-local correlations. This can be viewed as quasi-quantum
* Using a Gompertzian system means using a Gompertz function, named after Benjamin Gompertz in the 19th century, to describe the decay in for instance living systems as well as crystals composed of atoms, molecules or ions.
(macroscopic) version of quantum-entanglement. Thus Molski comes to a conclusion similar to those of some previous papers, especially those which have used ‘‘Weak Quantum Theory’’: the mechanism of homeopathy is based on non-locality. However, and this is the most important feature, Molski’s paper shows, that even in the context of remedy preparation and therapy, non-local phenomena play a decisive role. This is the counterpart of some recent results in physical research where it is experimentally shown that a number of macroscopic phenomena, for instance susceptibility, have their roots in quantum-entanglement.
References 1 Milgrom LR. Conspicuous by its absence: the Memory of Water, macro-entanglement, and the possibility of homeopathy. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 209–219. 2 Milgrom LR. Journeys in the country of the blind: entanglement theory and the effects of blinding on trials of homeopathy and homeopathic proving. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2007; 4: 7–16. 3 Hankey A. Macroscopic quantum coherence in patient–practitioner– remedy entanglement: the quantized fluctuation field perspective. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2008; 5: 1–3. 4 Walach H. Entanglement model of homeopathy as an example of generalizsed entanglement predicted by weak quantum theory. Forsch Komplementa¨rmed Klass Naturheilkd 2003; 10: 192–200. 5 Weinga¨rtner O. The nature of the active ingredient in ultramolecular dilutions. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 220–226. 6 Molski M. Quasi-quantum phenomena: the key to understanding homeopathy. Homeopathy 2010; 99: 104–112.
Otto Weinga¨rtner Department of Basic Research, Pharm. Fabrik Dr. Reckeweg & Co. GmbH, D-64625 Bensheim, Germany E-mail: [email protected]
EDITORIAL
Quasi-quantum phenomena and homeopathy Possible relationships between homeopathy and non-local phenomena in physics have been discussed in ‘‘Homeopathy’’ several times in recent years. ‘‘Weak Quantum Theory’’ has been the starting point in all cases.1–5 Weak Quantum Theory however, is a theoretical instrument which is not understood by many readers of ‘‘Homeopathy’’. Thus an argument on a more macroscopic scale is very welcome, as it is easier to understand. The paper ‘‘Quasi-Quantum Phenomena: the Key to Understanding Homeopathy’’ by the Polish Professor of chemistry Marcin Molski, in this issue, offers such an argument.6 Clearly the constituents of the homeopathic process, remedy preparation and therapy, are mostly on a macroscopic scale while non-local phenomena like entanglement in quantum physics belong to a microscopic one. Now, Molski introduces a new class of what he calls ‘‘quasi-quantum phenomena’’ and demonstrates that these phenomena may be the missing link between micro- and macro-levels of matter organization. So far quasi-quantum phenomena don’t have anything to do with homeopathy in his reasoning. The striking argument is his use of a known formal system, here a Gompertzian system,* to describe features of quasi-quantum phenomena. He goes on to show the compatibility of that specific system with the principles of homeopathy. In order to show this relationship Molski uses some features and properties of Gompertzian systems which are explained in short in the Appendix. Readers who are not trained in mathematical methods of theoretical physics and/or chemistry will have to take this on trust. The author’s argument linking homeopathy and quasiquantum phenomena goes like this. If crystallization and its reciprocal process of dissolution belong to the class of quasi-quantum non-local coherent phenomena the following link to homeopathy exists: the molecules of the remedy prepared in the process of dilution of the active substance are interconnected at-a-distance by non-local correlations. This can be viewed as quasi-quantum
* Using a Gompertzian system means using a Gompertz function, named after Benjamin Gompertz in the 19th century, to describe the decay in for instance living systems as well as crystals composed of atoms, molecules or ions.
(macroscopic) version of quantum-entanglement. Thus Molski comes to a conclusion similar to those of some previous papers, especially those which have used ‘‘Weak Quantum Theory’’: the mechanism of homeopathy is based on non-locality. However, and this is the most important feature, Molski’s paper shows, that even in the context of remedy preparation and therapy, non-local phenomena play a decisive role. This is the counterpart of some recent results in physical research where it is experimentally shown that a number of macroscopic phenomena, for instance susceptibility, have their roots in quantum-entanglement.
References 1 Milgrom LR. Conspicuous by its absence: the Memory of Water, macro-entanglement, and the possibility of homeopathy. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 209–219. 2 Milgrom LR. Journeys in the country of the blind: entanglement theory and the effects of blinding on trials of homeopathy and homeopathic proving. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2007; 4: 7–16. 3 Hankey A. Macroscopic quantum coherence in patient–practitioner– remedy entanglement: the quantized fluctuation field perspective. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2008; 5: 1–3. 4 Walach H. Entanglement model of homeopathy as an example of generalizsed entanglement predicted by weak quantum theory. Forsch Komplementa¨rmed Klass Naturheilkd 2003; 10: 192–200. 5 Weinga¨rtner O. The nature of the active ingredient in ultramolecular dilutions. Homeopathy 2007; 96: 220–226. 6 Molski M. Quasi-quantum phenomena: the key to understanding homeopathy. Homeopathy 2010; 99: 104–112.
Otto Weinga¨rtner Department of Basic Research, Pharm. Fabrik Dr. Reckeweg & Co. GmbH, D-64625 Bensheim, Germany E-mail: [email protected]