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Journal of Integrative Medicine ›› 2024, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (5): 533-544.doi: 10.1016/j.joim.2024.06.005

• Methodology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Scientific guidelines for preclinical research on potentised preparations manufactured according to current pharmacopoeias—the PrePoP guidelines

Alexander L. Tournier a b c, Leoni V. Bonamin d, Susann Buchheim-Schmidt e, Steven Cartwright f, Christoph Dombrowsky a, Paul Doesburg g, Carla Holandino h, Maria Olga Kokornaczyk a g, Everine B. van de Kraats i, Jesús Antonio López-Carvallo j, Papiya Nandy k, José Manuel Mazón-Suástegui l, Fateme Mirzajani m n, Bernard Poitevin o, Claudia Scherr b g, Karin Thieves p, Sandra Würtenberger q, Stephan Baumgartner a b   

  1. a. Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Bern, Switzerland
    b. Institute of Integrative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, North Rhine–Westphalia, Germany
    c. Homeopathy Research Institute, London SW7 4EF, United Kingdom
    d. Graduate Program on Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, São Paulo 01504-000, São Paulo, Brazil
    e. Department of Medical Science, Deutsche Homöopathie-Union DHU-Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG, 76227 Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
    f. Cherwell Laboratory for Fundamental Research in Homeopathy, Oxford OX2 8NU, Oxforeshire, United Kingdom
    g. Society for Cancer Research, Hiscia Research Institute, 4144 Arlesheim, Basel, Switzerland
    h. Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    i. World Water Community, Rotterdam 3029AK, the Netherlands
    j. Departamento de Acuicultura, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, 1790437 Coquimbo, Elqui, Chile
    k. Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Education, Kolkata, West Bengal 700068, West Bengal, India
    l. Laboratorio de Homeopatía Acuícola y Semillas Marinas, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz 23096, Baja California Sur, Mexico
    m. Protein Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 1983969411, Iran
    n. Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Science, Knowledge University, 44001 Erbil, Erbil, Iraq
    o. Société Savante d’Homéopathie, 75009 Paris, France
    p. Sola Salus, Institute for Homeopathic Research, 52511 Geilenkirchen, North Rhine–Westphalia, Germany
    q. Scientific Society for Homeopathy, 06366 Köthen, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
  • Received:2023-09-29 Accepted:2024-05-15 Online:2024-09-16 Published:2024-09-27
  • Contact: Alexander L. Tournier E-mail:alexander.tournier@unibe.ch

Objective
Pharmacopoeias regulate the manufacture of potentised pharmaceutical preparations used in different branches of complementary and integrative medicine. The physicochemical properties and biological activity of these preparations are often investigated in preclinical research, yet no guidelines for experimental research currently exist in this area. The present PrePoP guidelines aim to provide recommendations to promote high-quality, statistically sound, and reproducible preclinical research on potentised preparations.
Methods
Input was gathered from researchers nominated by the relevant scientific societies using a simplified Delphi consensus approach covering the most relevant aspects of basic research methodology in the field including appropriate controls, sample preparation and handling, and statistics. After three rounds of feedback, a consensus was finally reached on the most important aspects and considerations for conducting high-quality research on potentised preparations.
Results
We present a series of recommendations on a range of topics including experimental controls, system stability, blinding and randomisation, environmental influences, and procedures for the preparation of potentised samples and controls, and we address some specific challenges of this research field.
Conclusion
This expert consensus process resulted in a robust set of methodological guidelines for research on potentised preparations and provides a valuable framework that will inform and improve the quality of subsequent research in this emerging field.

Key words: Research guidelines, Fundamental research, Basic research, Complementary and integrative medicine, Potentisation, Potentised preparations

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