A comparative analysis of concept of vehicle in allopathy and in homoeopathy

Dr Bharti Dhruv

ABSTRACT
Vehicle means a medium in which a drug is administered.In Allopathic Medicine, medications are typically administered using various vehicles or delivery mechanisms, to ensure their effective and safe absorption into the body. These vehicles can include oral tablets, capsules, liquid formulations, injections, transdermal patches, inhalers and more. In Homoeopathic vehicles are the medium for purification, preparation, preservation, internal administration and external application of drug substance or medicines.Homoeopathic vehicles classified in three forms according to their physical state under normal conditions. These are Solid, Liquid and Semisolid.
Choice between Allopathy and Homeopathy for the Vehicle-Related Issues depends on personal preferences, individual needs and the recommendations of qualified healthcare professionals.

INTRODUCTION
The term vehicle implies “Means of conveyance and transmission” that acts asthe medium in which a drug is administered.[1]It refers to substances that are used as a medium to deliver medications or other active ingredients.These vehicles can come in various forms, such as liquids, gels, ointments, creams and transdermal patches, and they serve as a carrier for the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) to be delivered to the intended site of action in the body.[2]

The choice of vehicle depends on the specific medication and the route of administration. For example, for oral medication, vehicle includes solutions, suspensions, and emulsions. The selection of the appropriate vehicle iscrucial as it can import the stability, absorption, and effectiveness of the medication.[3]

In addition to serving as a carrier for the active ingredients, vehicles can also provide additional benefits such as moisturizing and emollient effects in topical formulations, or enhanced solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs in oral formulation.Furthermore, they can also influence the release rate of the active ingredients and contribute to the overall sensory experience of the medication, such as texture and odour.[4]

Overall vehicles play a critical role in the field of medicine by facilitating the effective delivery of medicine and active pharmaceutical ingredients to patients, and their formulations requires careful consideration of the specific properties and requirements of the intended medication and route of administration.³

Homoeopathic Vehicles
“HomoeopathicVehicles are material agents that are therapeutically inert,having no curative properties of its own,as wellas chemically non-reactive with drug substances. They are a medium for extraction of the properties of the drug, preservation and conveyance of the properties of the drug to the intended site of action.”¹

These substances are therapeutically active of the medicinal substance. They are the medium for purification, preparation, preservation,internal administration and external application of drug substance or medicines.¹

Allopathic Vehicles
In Allopathic Medicine, medications are typically administrated using various vehicles or delivery mechanisms, to ensure their effective and safe absorption into the body. These vehicles can include oral tablets, capsules, liquid formulations, injections, transdermal patches, inhalers and more. In Allopathic Pharmacology, the choice of vehicle for medication delivery is crucial in determining the drugs bioavailability which refers to the fraction of the administered dose that reaches the systemic circulation in an active form.[5]

Concept of Vehicle
In the realm of Homeopathy, the ‘Concept of a Vehicle’ differs from the conventional understanding found in Allopathic medicine. Homoeopathic remedies are prepared through a process of serial dilution and succussion that is believed to imbue the carrier substance with the energetic or vibrational properties of the original medicinal substance. This unique process is characteristic of Homoeopathic Pharmacy and is central to the Principles of Homoeopathic Treatment the carrier substances used in preparing Homoeopathic remedies are primarily water and alcohol, although lactose is also commonly employed for dry doses. The carrier substance therefore serves as the vehicle for delivering the energy or information of the original medicinal substance to the body, rather than as a traditional medium. Components of Homoeopathy believe that the vital force of the body interact with the energetic properties of the Homoeopathic remedy to stimulate the body’s own healing mechanisms.²

In Allopathic Medicine, the ‘Concept of Vehicles’ refers to the carrier’s delivery systems used to administer pharmaceutical substances to the human body. These vehicles are designed to facilitate the sale and effective delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients to their target sites in the body.In Allopathic Medicine extend to advanced drug delivery systems, including liposomes, nanoparticles, micelles and other nanocarriers. These vehicles are designed to enhance the stability solubility and bioavailability of drugs, as well as provide targeted delivery to specific tissues of cells within the body.²

The formulation of vehicles for medications in Allopathic medicine involves careful consideration of factors suchas physicochemical properties stability, compatibility with the active pharmaceutical ingredient and in patient acceptance.⁴

Additionally,Vehicles may be tailored to provide specific functions such as sustained release. Improved absorption, or protection of the active ingredient from degradation.²

Classification of Vehicles¹

Classification of HomoeopathicVehicles by the virtue of their physical state under normal conditions. These are of three forms:

SOLID VEHICLE	LIQUID VEHICLE	SEMI-SOLID VEHICLE
Sugar of Milk (Lactose)	Purified Water	Vaseline
Cane Sugar (Sucrose)	Alcohol	Waxes
Globules or Pillules	Glycerine	Soap
Tablets or Tabloids	Oils	Starch

AllopathicVehicles can include a wide range of substances. There is no classification of vehicles as such in ModernMedicine.These are water, alcohol, oils, creams, gels, various synthetic materials.⁴

These are chosen based on specific requirements of the medicationsuch as solubility, stability and targeted delivery.⁴

Uses of Vehicles

In Homoeopathy, the use of vehicle is integral to the preparation ofremedies.¹

• Vehicles are used in the preparation of mother tinctures, mother solutions and mother powders from crude drug materials and without any vehicle these preparation could not be made.
• It is used for further trituration and increased potentization from the mother preparation.
• For dispensing medicines or remedies according to the Prescriptions of Physicians.
• Used as a bases, for preparing external application to the medicines.
• Used as a “Placebo or Phytum in between the administration of two doses of medicine or remedies, especially in case of Chronic Diseases.

In Allopathy,²the uses are:

• Oral medications, often use water or alcohol as vehicle for ease of ingestion and absorption in the Gastrointestinal tract.
• Various forms of vehicle such as tablets, capsules, syrups, suspension, creams, gels, ointment, and injection are used to deliver medication.

Precautions

In Homeopathy, the precautions related to vehicles are rooted in the unique principles of Homoeopathic preparation:¹

• Source of Water and Alcohol– The source and quality of Water and Alcohol used during the preparation of remedies is considered as important. Practitioners may take precautions to ensure that the chosen water and alcohol meets specific purity and quality standards to avoids potential interference with the energetic properties of the remedy.
• Remedies Potentization– The process of potentization, which involves serial dilution and succussion, requires careful attention to detail and precision in order to create Homeopathic remedies with the desired therapeutic properties. Dilution process is carried out according to established principles and guidelines.
• Labelling and Identification– Precautions are taken to accuratelylabel and identify Homeopathic remedies to prevent confusion and ensure line correct selection and administration of the intended remedy. This is particularly important due to the high dilution levels involved in Homoeopathic preparations.

In Allopathy, the precautions related to vehicles involve considerationssuch as:[6]

• Allergies and Sensitivities– Certain vehicles or excipients usedin medication formulations may cause allergic reactions or sensitivities in some individuals.
• Interactions-Some vehicles or excipients may interact with the active ingredients of medications or with other medications that a patient is taking.
• Absorption and Bioavailability– The choice of vehicle can affect theabsorption and bio availability of the active ingredients in medications and their impact on the delivery and effectiveness of medications especially when considering the Route of Administration.
• Stability and Shelf life-Vehicle’s ability to maintain the stability and shelf life of the formulations. Factors such as temperature, sensitivity, light sensitivity, and chemical reactivity of the vehicle need to be taken into considerations to ensure the quality and efficacy of the medications.

Comparative Analysis¹

HOMOEOPATHY	ALLOPATHY
Homoeopathy is based on the principle of ‘like cures like’, which means that a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person can be used in a highly diluted form to treat similar symptoms in a sick person.	Allopathy based on the principle of treating diseases with remedies that produces effect different from those caused by the disease itself.
The most common vehicle serves as the medium for administering the highly diluted active substances.	It used as a wide range of vehicle to deliver pharmaceutical substances in more concentratedforms.
Vehicles used in Homoeopathy are lactose, sugar pellets, liquid sprays or tinctures.	The vehicle used in Allopathic medicine are tablets, capsules, liquids, injections, ointments.
·Homoeopathic remedies may also be subjected to regulations, but these may vary based on the specific regulations for Homoeopathy in each country.	In many countries, Allopathic pharmaceuticals are subject to vigorous testing and approvalprocesses to ensure their safety and efficacy before they can be marketed to the public.
· Proponents of Homoeopathy believe that the vital force of the body interacts with the energetic properties of the Homoeopathic remedy to stimulate the body’s own healing mechanisms.	In Allopathic Medicine, primarily pertains to the methods by which medications are delivered to the body, ensuring their optimal therapeutic effects while minimizing potential side effects and complications.

Side Effects

In Homoeopathy:¹

• Alcohol Sensitivity-Some individual may be sensitive to Alcohol, which is commonly used as a vehicle in Homoeopathic tinctures and liquid preparations.
• Sensitivity to source materials– The source materials used to make the tinctures or mother tinctures, such as certain plants or minerals could potentially lead to sensitivities or allergic reactions in some individuals.
• Dilution Issues– The dilution process and potential variations in the quality of the water used in Homeopathic preparations could theoretically impact the final product and efficacy, highlighting the importance of quality control.

In Allopathy:⁶

• Allergic Reactions-Some individual maybe allergic to specific drug.
• cific excipients used as vehicle in medications.
• Gastrointestinal Disturbances– Certain vehicles especially those used in oral medications, might affect the Gastrointestinal tract.
• Dermatological Reactions– The use of certain vehicles in topical preparation may cause skin irritations or allergic dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

CONCLUSION
Ultimately the choice betweenAllopathy and Homeopathy for the Vehicle-Related Issues depends on personal preferences, individual needs and the recommendations of qualified healthcare professionals. It is essential to consult with a healthcare provider to discuss and determine the most suitable approach for each specific situation.

Acknowledgement
Author acknowledges Dr Rajesh K. Meena, Associate Professor & HoD, Homoeopathic Pharmacy, and Dr Astha Mathur, Assistance Professor, Homoeopathic Pharmacy, for guidance and support.

REFERENCE

1. Banerjee D.D. Augmented Textbook of Homoeopathic Pharmacy. Noida; B. Jain Publishers (P) LTD.: 2023
2. Adepu S, Ramakrishna S. Controlled Drug Delivery Systems: Current Status and Future Directions. Molecules. 2021 Sep 29;26(19):5905. doi: 10.3390/molecules26195905. PMID: 34641447; PMCID: PMC8512302.
3. Kim J, De Jesus O. Medication Routes of Administration. [Updated 2023 Aug 23]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568677/
4. Barnes TM, Mijaljica D, Townley JP, Spada F, Harrison IP. Vehicles for Drug Delivery and Cosmetic Moisturizers: Review and Comparison. Pharmaceutics. 2021 Nov 26;13(12):2012. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13122012. PMID: 34959294; PMCID: PMC8703425.
5. Le j.Drug absorption. MSD Manual. 2022 July(Modified Sep 2022). Available from:https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/drugs/administration-and-kinetics-of-drugs/drug-administration
6. Shanbhag T,  Shenoy Pharmacology for Medical Graduates, 4th Updated Edition. Netherlands; Elsevier Health Sciences:2020.

Bharti Dhruv (BHMS)
University College of Homoeopathy,
(Constituent College of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur),
Old CHC Building, Ajmeri Gate, Kekri – 305404.
Email: Bhineedhuv16@gmail.com