Reproducibility of effects of homeopathically potentised gibberellic acid on the growth of Lemna gibba L. in a randomised and blinded bioassay

Vera Majewsky; Claudia Scherr; Sebastian Patrick Arlt; Jonas Kiener; Kristina Frrokaj; Tobias Schindler; Peter Klocke; Stephan Baumgartner

doi:10.1016/j.homp.2013.12.004

Homeopathy, Inhaltsverzeichnis

Homeopathy 2014; 103(02): 113-126
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2013.12.004

Original Paper

Reproducibility of effects of homeopathically potentised gibberellic acid on the growth of Lemna gibba L. in a randomised and blinded bioassay

Autor*innen

Vera Majewsky

¹Institute of Complementary Medicine, University of Berne, Insel-Spital, Imhoof-Pavillon, 3010 Bern, Switzerland

³Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 65 (Haus 27, Gebäude 19), 14163 Berlin, Germany

⁴Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Ackerstrasse, Postfach, 3070 Frick, Switzerland
Claudia Scherr

¹Institute of Complementary Medicine, University of Berne, Insel-Spital, Imhoof-Pavillon, 3010 Bern, Switzerland

²Hiscia Institute, Society for Cancer Research, Kirschweg 9, 4144 Arlesheim, Switzerland
Sebastian Patrick Arlt

³Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 65 (Haus 27, Gebäude 19), 14163 Berlin, Germany
Jonas Kiener

⁴Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Ackerstrasse, Postfach, 3070 Frick, Switzerland
Kristina Frrokaj

⁴Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Ackerstrasse, Postfach, 3070 Frick, Switzerland
Tobias Schindler

⁴Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Ackerstrasse, Postfach, 3070 Frick, Switzerland
Peter Klocke

⁴Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Ackerstrasse, Postfach, 3070 Frick, Switzerland

⁵Bovicare GmbH, Hermannswerder Haus 14, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Stephan Baumgartner

¹Institute of Complementary Medicine, University of Berne, Insel-Spital, Imhoof-Pavillon, 3010 Bern, Switzerland

²Hiscia Institute, Society for Cancer Research, Kirschweg 9, 4144 Arlesheim, Switzerland

⁶Institute of Integrative Medicine, University of Witten-Herdecke, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313 Herdecke, Germany

Abstract

Background: Reproducibility of basic research investigations in homeopathy is challenging. This study investigated if formerly observed effects of homeopathically potentised gibberellic acid (GA₃) on growth of duckweed (Lemna gibba L.) were reproducible.

Methods: Duckweed was grown in potencies (14x–30x) of GA₃ and one time succussed and unsuccussed water controls. Outcome parameter area-related growth rate was determined by a computerised image analysis system. Three series including five independent blinded and randomised potency experiments (PE) each were carried out. System stability was controlled by three series of five systematic negative control (SNC) experiments. Gibbosity (a specific growth state of L. gibba) was investigated as possibly essential factor for reactivity of L. gibba towards potentised GA₃ in one series of potency and SNC experiments, respectively.

Results: Only in the third series with gibbous L. gibba L. we observed a significant effect (p = 0.009, F-test) of the homeopathic treatment. However, growth rate increased in contrast to the former study, and most biologically active potency levels differed. Variability in PE was lower than in SNC experiments. The stability of the experimental system was verified by the SNC experiments.

Conclusions: Gibbosity seems to be a necessary condition for reactivity of L. gibba to potentised GA₃. Further still unknown conditions seem to govern effect direction and the pattern of active and inactive potency levels. When designing new reproducibility studies, the physiological state of the test organism must be considered. Variability might be an interesting parameter to investigate effects of homeopathic remedies in basic research.

Keywords

Homeopathy - Potentisation - Ultra high dilution - Gibberellic acid - Duckweed - Reproducibility

Volltext

Referenzen

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