[Research in homeopathy: data, problems and prospects]

In the recent years the interest for the therapeutic use of exogenous and endogenous natural compounds, that are also employed at very low dosage, is growing up. In this context, an important role is played by homoeopathic medicine, which is involving increasing number of physicians and researchers, besides the common people. Here a critical approach to the problem of homoeopathy theory and research is attempted. The traditional concepts of the homoeopathy are challenged with the modern knowledge arising from basic and applied research. It is shown that at least a part of these concepts may find a good correspondence into the modern physiopathology. However, a number of problems, both of biological-biomedical and of practical nature remain unresolved. Moreover, any explanation of the effect of extremely diluted drugs is still hypothetical. In the second part of the work, laboratory investigations regarding the test of the homoeopathic drugs and of ultra-low doses of various substances in several experimental models are reviewed. Even if the evidence is far from to be conclusive, a number of studies showed that compounds, that are prepared and diluted according to the methods of the homoeopathic medicine, may exhibit specific stimulatory or inhibitory activities in selected experimental systems.