Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Favorable response to a low dose of an agent, such as alcohol, that has a detrimental effect at a higher dose.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun stimulation by the use of a low concentration of a toxin

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Greek hormēsis, eagerness, rapid motion, from hormān, to urge on; see hormone.]

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Examples

  • Biologists who specialize in the biochemical and physiological effects of toxic chemicals in living systems - toxicologists - use the term hormesis to refer to the effects of certain (often environmental) chemicals, having definite toxic effects when exposed to the system at certain known doses, yet having beneficial effects when exposed to the system at doses lower than those that cause toxicity.

    Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium - Recent changes [en] 2008

  • In fact, toxicologists are studying a concept called hormesis that suggests, in some cases, exposure to low levels of a chemical may actually help prevent cancer or other diseases because the exposure works on the human body in the same manner as a medical vaccination to initiate and strengthen natural defense systems.

    blogHOUSTON 2009

  • The multi-disciplinary field of small dose effects is called "hormesis," and approximately 1,000 studies from a wide variety of scientific specialties have confirmed significant and sometimes substantial biological effects from extremely small doses of certain substances on certain biological systems.

    Dana Ullman: Nobel Prize Winner Takes Homeopathy Seriously Dana Ullman 2011

  • The multi-disciplinary field of small dose effects is called "hormesis," and approximately 1,000 studies from a wide variety of scientific specialties have confirmed significant and sometimes substantial biological effects from extremely small doses of certain substances on certain biological systems.

    Dana Ullman: Nobel Prize Winner Takes Homeopathy Seriously Dana Ullman 2011

  • Readers are also encouraged to study the field of "hormesis" which is a broad and highly researched body of evidence that studies the biological influences from various low dose effects.

    Dana Ullman: Energy Medicine: Futuristic Healing With Ancient Roots 2010

  • Homeopathy (use of diluted???) -- has origins associated with "hormesis" where dilute [but measurable] quantities of poisons were found to be effective treatments for some things.

    Planet Atheism 2009

  • This is a plausible biological process called "hormesis", i.e., very low levels of exposure to a toxin can protect a person against high levels of exposure later.

    unknown title 2009

  • Homeopathy (use of diluted???) -- has origins associated with "hormesis" where dilute [but measurable] quantities of poisons were found to be effective treatments for some things.

    Planet Atheism 2009

  • Will give this some thought, and check 'hormesis' references to see if anyone touches on the subject.

    Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium - Recent changes [en] 2008

  • Biologists who specialize in the biochemical and physiological effects of toxic chemicals in living systems - toxicologists - use 'hormesis' to refer to the effects of certain (often environmental) chemicals, having definite toxic effects when exposed to the system above certain known doses, yet having beneficial effects when exposed to the system at doses lower than those that cause toxicity.

    Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium - Recent changes [en] 2008

  • He is an evangelist for the advantages of what he calls “hormesis”—the practice of inducing metabolic stress by short intense exercise or intermittent fasting.

    Can We Live Longer but Stay Younger? Condé Nast 2019

Comments

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  • The process by which the company Hormel Foods turns meat into "processed" meat products?

    September 1, 2010