Highlights of the 2025 Homeopathic Research Institute Conference in Greece

AAHP’s picks from attending and from the HRI Conference Booklet 

The Homeopathy Research Institute (HRI) held its 6th international research conference on homeopathy in Thessaloniki, Greece, June 20–22, 2025. The conference theme was “Cutting Edge Research in Homeopathy.” More than 200 delegates from 30 countries attended the conference. Sixty-six researchers from 15 countries gave 38 oral presentations and 28 poster presentations in clinical, fundamental, basic, agrohomeopathy, veterinary research and provings methodology. The organizers will make available in the upcoming months an official summary of the conference. For now a brief summary follows below. 

Introduction: The president of the Athens Medical Association Dr. George Patoulis opened the conference and emphasized the connection Greece has with homeopathy through the work of Dr. George Vitoulkas. Rachel Roberts, HRI’s Chief Executive, also presented a summary of the state of research, (see “AAHP covers 2024 HRI Evidence Summary: Data-Driven Evidence for Homeopathy”). 

Basic In Vitro Research: Work in cell models has matured. Originally used by researchers to demonstrate the effects of homeopathic dilutions, specific cell types and cell lines are now being used to demonstrate direction in disease models and therapeutic pathways. It wasn’t long ago that one of the most terrifying challenges was to think of demonstrating direct effects of a homeopathic preparation. Now the use of in vitro models in homeopathy is commonplace and ever expanding. Dr. Imane Lejri presented follow on research using Gelsemium, demonstrating the neuroprotective effects on mitochondrial function after prolonged treatment (14 days) with Gelsemium 9C, 15C, and 30C in human neuro-blastoma cells. Earlier work in this area showed that lower dilutions of Gelsemium had stimulating effects on mitochondrial bioenergetics, resulting in neurite outgrowth. This work not only demonstrates action of Gelsemium dilutions but the difference in action between lower and higher dilutions of the same substance. 

Several other presentations highlighted the effects of Ferrum phosporicum on translation of inflammation and iron metabolism related proteins in mouse macro phases, the effects of Anas Barbariae on phagocytosis, cell stiffness, and oxidative stress. 

Clinical Research: There is an emerging trend to use homeopathy for addiction disorders. Dr. Bucco de Campos reported on a study in tobacco addiction. His study found homeopathy to be superior to nicotine patches. Dr. Rajachandra Sekar reported on the use of homeopathy in alcohol use disorder. Homeopathic treatment showed effectiveness in withdraw symptoms and alcohol use disorder. 

Dr. Debadatta reported on the prevention of dengue fever in India using Eupatorium 30C. In a trial including more than 20,000 subjects, the protective effect of Eupatorium against dengue was about 60%. Of note, this trial was funded by the Indian Health Authority.  

Dr. Ubiratan Adler presented research in treatment of major depressive disorder using an N=1 model. His research evaluated outward characteristics of disease symptom progression in the absence of homeopathic treatment and symptom relief during homeopathic treatment.  

Several presentations were made in projects aimed at improving the rigor within the clinical process, for example validating the repertory, ensuring the dependability of the materia medica, and studies designed to evaluate the economic value of homeopathic treatment. 

Agrohomeopathy: Several projects were presented in the area of Agrohomeopathy. Here the aim is to evaluate the effect on crops as well as the agricultural environment. This raises the question of the subject of the intervention: the crop, the soil, the farmer, or all three. In addition it provokes a debate between individualized treatment or the application of homeopathic dilutions to an agricultural system. Much of the agricultural work in homeopathic research is being funded by national governments — Brazil being the largest. 

Fundamental Research: Notably among the presentations were a few retrospectives from a generation of homeopathic researchers. Below are a few highlights. 

• Professor Stephan Baumgartner, Institute of Integrative Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten Germany, presented a narrative review of 30 years of basic research in homeopathy. Based on the evidence from 20 experimental models, Dr. Baumgartner concluded that homeopathic dilutions show effects. The assays used covered the fields of physical investigations, bioassays with plants and micro-organisms, and cell- based assays. They showed the relevance of replication trials to detect possible influencing factors and outlined the values of systematic control experiments. Synthesizing and comparing all results obtained, some tentative overarching trends and patterns were identified, such as influences of the physiological status of organism on the effects of homeopathic preparations. These patterns and trends can be developed into testable hypotheses to approach the mode of action of potentizes preparations. 

• Dr. Steven Cartwright concluded that homeopathic dilutions produce an electrical field, yet are sensitive to applied currents. They are both stabilized and enhanced by applied static magnetic fields, and also produce their own magnetic field. 

• Dr. Alex Tournier presented, “How Does Homeopathy Work? A Scoping Review of Proposed Modes of Action.” Dr. Tournier concluded that an overview of theories and models on the mode of action of homeopathy resulted in 14 largely non-overlapping frameworks. The next phase of this work is to perform an in-depth assessment of these theories to tease out the most promising areas for future research. 

Posters: The poster session was one of the highlights of the conference. Twenty-nine projects were presented. Subjects ranged from the effect of homeopathic dilutions on the invitro production of bovine embryos to a pilot comparative study of children with autism spectrum disorder with and without individualized homeopathic treatment. AAHP sponsored the poster session and distributed portable memory drives loaded with the AAHP 100th Anniversary Report. 

These are just a few examples of the 66 presentations made throughout the conference. HRI, which is a U.K.-based charity dedicated to promoting high-quality research in homeopathy at the international level, will publish a comprehensive review of the conference in the upcoming months. Take the time to review it when it becomes available and considering donating to assist HRI. And for a firsthand perspective of the conference and what it means to our industry, read the column by Mark Land who attended the conference on behalf of AAHP for the second time.