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Influence of Homeopathically Prepared Gibberellic Acid on Wheat Stalk Growth –

A Bio-Assay for Fundamental Research on Ultramolecular Dilutions

Doctoral Thesis

to obtain the academic degree

Doctor in Complementary, Psychosocial and Integrated Health Sciences

at the

Universidad Azteca

presented by

Christian Reich, Mag. pharm. (Vienna), MSc (Graz)

March 2011

Universidad Azteca tiene Reconocimiento de Validez Of icial de Es tudios de la Secretaría de Educación

Publica - Universidad reconocida según Arto. 26 IV del Acuerdo 279 por el que se estable cen los trámites y

proc edimientos relacionados con el reconocimiento de validez oficial de estudios del tipo superior - postgrado

universitario según Arto. 59 Ley General de Educación

Doctoral Thesis Universidad Azteca Christian Reich, Mag. pharm. (Vienna) MSc (Graz)

1

Christian Reich

Stadtplatz 33/9

A – 5280 Braunau

[email protected]

I declare that this doctoral thesis has been composed by myself and that only those sources, aids

and advisors that are duly noted herein have been used or consulted.

Braunau, März 2011

_______________________________________

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dr. habil. Peter Christian Endler

Chair of Examination Committee: Prof. Dr. Dr. habil. Gerhard Berchtold


2

“In complex dynamical systems, nonlinearities and feedback loops often lead to a surprising

behavior. The short-term effect of a stimulus may be reversed by the feedback loops. Thus, the

relation between „cause‟ and „effect‟ is much more complicated than usually imagined. In the

first place, it is important to get an appreciable effect altogether, which is the case if there is

some kind of resonance between the stimulus and the system. It depends on details of the system

(and the interaction) whether it reacts in the expected manner or just the other way round”.

Prof. Dr. habil. Karl Kratky

Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna

(from „Ultra High Dilution – Physiology and Physics‟ by P.C. Endler and J. Schulte)

I wish to thank Prof. Dr. Dr. habil. Peter Christian Endler for his support and for directing my

interest towards homeopathy research. Special thanks are due to the colleagues who contributed

to the studies presented.


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SUMMARY

Influence of Homeopathically Prepared Gibberellic Acid on Wheat Stalk Growth –

A Bio-Assay for Fundamental Research on Ultramolecular Dilutions

Background:

Bio-assays are experimental models which serve as important tools in biological research. In

order to elaborate reliable models, replications of fundamental experiments are indispensable,

because repeatability is an important criterion of modern research and a major challenge for

homeopathic basic research.

An overview of recent follow-up research on fundamental research models for ultramolecular

homeopathically prepared dilutions, i.e. beyond a dilution of 10-23

is found in surveys by

[Endler, Thieves et al. 2009] and [Reich, Bonamin, Endler 2011]. They show that the frequency

of follow-up research and the consistency of follow-up results have considerably improved over

the past 10 years. This especially applies to the question of independent replication of

fundamental research in homeopathy.

The term homeopathy is a synthesis of the greek words hómoios (“like”) and pathós

(“suffering”), capturing in a word one of the underlying principles of the curative system: the

Law of Similars. This law implies that a remedy which at higher doses causes symptoms in a

healthy organism may in minute doses stimulate recovery from symptoms similar to the former

(“like cures like”). The Law of Similars in its most elementary form is represented by the so-

called isopathic approach, where the very substance that exerts certain effects on a healthy

organism is applied in high dilution to induce effects contrary to the former. We utilized this

isopathic approach (also termed the principle of homologous similarity) by treating wheat grains

with ultramolecular homeopathic dilutions of the ubiquitous plant hormone gibberellic acid

which stimulates manifold effects in vivo, e.g. stalk growth.

The Potency Principle represents the second foundation pillar of homeopathy. This principle –

interpreted in the light of the principle of homologous similarity – assumes that the agitation

process alienates the information contained in the starting material, even if the latter is finally

diluted beyond the Avogadro constant.

The aforementioned assumptions lead us to the hypothesis that the regulatory response of wheat

grains to ultramolecular homeopathic dilutions of gibberellic acid, i.e. gibberellic acid D30

(GA3 D30) should be diametrically opposed to their response to crude gibberellic acid, resulting

in a decrease of stalk growth.


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Objective: To investigate the influence of GA3 D30 on the longitudinal growth of wheat stalks

in a multi and a two researcher study respectively.

Methods: Grains of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum, Capo variety) were observed under the

influence of GA3 D30. The dilution was chosen such that it exceeded the Avogadro constant

(hence the term “ultramolecular”). Analogously prepared water was used for control. Agitation

procedures were performed using the multi glass method (as opposed to the one glass or

Korsakoff method). Grains were allowed to germinate under defined conditions for 7 days,

whereupon stalks were cut off and their lengths were measured. Germination rates were

monitored in parallel. All experiments were conducted blindly.

Results:

[Pfleger, Hofäcker et al. 2011]: In this pilot study it was found that treatment of wheat grains

with GA3 D30 results in smaller stalk lengths compared to water control. The difference was

statistically highly significant.

[Reich, Matzer et al. 2011]: Following up on the results of [Pfleger, Hofäcker et al. 2011]

further experiments with the wheat growth bio assay were conducted. The results obtained

proved to be dependent on the time of season. Our previous findings, namely that GA3 D30

affects stalk growth, were confirmed in this study. However, no reliable effects were found in

winter and spring experiments, whereas experiments performed in autumn consistently

produced a growth inhibiting effect of GA3 D30.

Conclusion:

The isopathic approach and the potency principle both appear to be effective in our wheat

growth bio-assay: potentized gibberellic acid evidently does influence stalk growth, even at a

dilution far beyond Avogadro‟s limit of theoretical 0-molarity (10-24

). This outcome can be

interpreted in the light of the hypothesis that even after extremely high dilution information

contained in the starting material – in our case the plant growth hormone gibberellic acid – is

being stored in liquid water due to the agitation process. Experiments on the model should be

conducted in the autumn season, this being the only time of year so far to have yielded reliable

effects.


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CONTENTS

Motto and acknowledgements 2

Summary 3

Introduction

1. Reproducibility of studies in non-clinical research on ultramolecular homeopathy 6

2. Why wheat and gibberellic acid ? 8

3. Gibberellins and their physiological effects on plants 8

4. Experiments (survey) 10

Main body

I. Repetitions of fundamental research models for homeopathically prepared 16

dilutions beyond 10-23

: a bibliometric study

II. Further aspects on replications of fundamental research on homeopathic 30


III. The effect of ultramolecular agitated gibberellic acid (10-30

) on wheat 54

stalk growth – a two researcher pilot study

IV. The effect of ultramolecular agitated gibberellic acid (10-30

) on wheat 65

seedling development – seasonal variation in a multi researcher study

Conclusion 81

Epilogue 82

References 83


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INTRODUCTION

1. Reproducibility of studies in non-clinical research on ultramolecular homeopathy

One of the main features of deterministic systems is the reproducibility of experiments.

Scientists therefore routinely investigate experimental reproducibility to identify such systems.

Propably the main question of fundamental homeopathy research is whether the effects

observed are deterministic in nature or not, i.e. whether they depend on the experimental

stimulus (which may then be modulated by further factors such as chronobiological influences)

or whether they are due to random factors. Therefore replications of experiments are

indispensable for fundamental research on homeopathy.

In general, 3 types of repetition trials can be distinguished:

Internal repetitions: These are conducted by the same working group or laboratory

which undertook the initial study. This category also includes repetitions by one and the

same researcher and successive repetitions by different researchers in one and the same

laboratory.

Multicenter trials: They are as a rule centrally organized, but carried out by various

researchers in different laboratories, normally leading to a publication by a team of

authors.

External repetitions: An independent researcher attempts to reproduce the initial study

in an independent laboratory, followed by independent publication.

When sorted according to results achieved (compared to the initial study), repetition trials can

be classified as follows:

Repeat studies yielding results which are consistent with the initial study, i.e. where a

comparable effect (in the same direction, e.g. growth enhancement) is found.

Repeat studies yielding results which are statistically significant, but different from the

initial study, i.e. when effects are different in direction (e.g. decrease instead of increase

in a parameter).

Repeat studies yielding results which are not statistically significant, i.e. where no effect

is found.


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Part I, Repetitions of fundamental research models for homeopathically prepared dilutions

beyond 10-23

: a bibliometric study [Endler, Thieves et al. 2009] and Part II, Further aspects on

replications of fundamental research on homeopathic dilutions beyond 10-23

[Reich, Bonamin,

Endler 2011] both deal with the question of reproducibility of studies in ultramolecular

homeopathy.

The abovementioned criteria for classification of trials were applied both in Part I and II.

Moreover, in Part II of this volume a score estimating the scientific impact of experimental

models is presented.

Part I and Part II allow the common conclusion that the frequency and the consistency in results

of repeat- and follow-up investigations in fundamental homeopathy research have considerably

improved over the past decade.

Parts III and IV of this volume focus on biological research conducted by our workgroup. The

objective of these studies was to scrutinize the effect of an ultramolecular, stepwise succused

dilution of the natural plant hormone gibberellic acid on wheat stalk growth and to examine the

reliability of this experimental model.


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2. Why wheat and gibberellic acid?

Our investigations on homeopathically prepared hormones were inspired by botanical studies by

Baumgartner (dwarf pea shoots and gibberellic acid) as well as by zoological research on

amphibians and thyroxine performed at our institute [for both see References Part III]. Due to

both ethical considerations and difficulties in procuring and handling the animals, efforts were

made to phase out the amphibian model in favour of some new, easier-to-manage bio-assay.

As the bio-assay on wheat stalk growth had been employed since the nineteen twenties –

originally using potencies of metal salts – and homeopathically prepared gibberellic acid had

also been tested on barley seedlings [for both see References Part III], combining wheat grains

and homeopathically prepared gibberellic acid appeared to be a promising approach.

For basic facts on wheat see [Pfleger, 2008].

3. Gibberellins and their physiological effects on plants

Gibberellic acid is an ubiquitous plant hormone and the most prominent compound within the

family of gibberellins.

Gibberellins are diterpenes and are named GA1 to GAx in order of their discovery. Gibberellic

acid (GA3) was the first gibberellin to be structurally characterized (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1: Molecular structure of gibberellic acid (GA3)

Currently more than 120 GAs have been identified isolated from plants, fungi and bacteria. The

term “Gibberellin” is derived from Gibberella fujikuroi ( = Fusarium moniliforme), a fungus


9

infesting rice plants and subsequently causing the bakanae (“foolish seedling”) disease by

excreting massive amounts of GA3. The affected plants are infertile, exhibit rapid growth and

become fusiform and pale in appearance. Furthermore they are incapable of supporting their

own weight, which causes them to snap. The first paper on the cause of bakanae, published at

the end of the 19th century [Hori, 1898], showed that the symptoms were induced by infection

with a fungus belonging to the genus Fusarium.

[Phinney, 1956] demonstrated the growth stimulating effect of GA3 in a most impressive way.

The results of his study showed that single-gene dwarf mutants of maize can be made to grow

normally by addition of gibberellic acid.

About 30 percent of known gibberellins are biologically active. During the growth period they

are believed to be synthesized in young tissues of the shoot and young leaves, whereas during

the maturation process gibberellins are additionally formed in the developing seeds.

The physiological effects of active gibberellins are manifold, depending on the type of

gibberellin as well as the plant species. Gibberellins stimulate:

Cell elongation (resulting in stem elongation)

Flowering

Sex expression (maleness) in dioecious flowers

Seedless fruit development (they are widely used in the grape-growing industry to

produce larger bunches and bigger, seedless grapes)

Delay of senescence in leaves and some fruits

Breaking of seed dormancy

Production of amylase in germinating cereal grains for mobilization of seed reserves

[www.plant-hormones.info/gibberellins.htm]

The last point in this list is important for our biological research. The process of enzyme

(amylase) production is stimulated by GA3 and can be triggered by various environmental

influences, such as contact with water during germination. In the course of a positive system

control for our experiments, we observed that after one week wheat stalks had become

considerably longer under treatment with gibberellic acid at molecular doses (dilutions of 10-4

and 10-6

resp.) than they had under exposure to pure water.


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4. Experiments (survey)

The experiments presented in this volume were based on both the Potency Principle and the

Law of Similars. The latter implies that a remedy, which at higher doses causes symptoms in a

healthy organism, may in minute doses stimulate recovery from symptoms similar to the former

(“like cures like”). The similarity principle in its most elementary form is represented by the so-

called isopathic approach, where the very substance that exerts certain effects on a healthy

organism is applied in high dilution following a step-by-step succusion process to induce effects

contrary to the former. We utilized this isopathic approach (also termed the principle of

homologous similarity) by treating wheat grains with ultramolecular, stepwise succussed

dilutions of the ubiquitous plant hormone gibberellic acid, which stimulates manifold effects in

vivo, e.g. stalk growth (see 3.)

The Potency Principle represents the second foundation pillar of homeopathy. This principle –

interpreted in the light of the principle of homologous similarity – assumes that the agitation

process alienates the information contained in the starting material, even if the latter is diluted

beyond the Avogadro constant. At such high dilutions the probability that even a single

molecule of the starting material remains in the resulting liquid is practically zero.

The aforementioned assumptions lead us to the hypothesis that the regulatory response of

wheat grains to ultramolecular homeopathically prepared gibberellic acid (GA3 D30) should be

diametrically opposed to their response to crude gibberellic acid, resulting in a decrease of stalk

growth.

In the course of our studies, grains of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum, Capo variety, grown

without herbicides or pesticides) were observed under the influence of GA3 D30. The dilution

was chosen such that it exceeded the Avogadro constant (hence the term “ultramolecular”).

Thus, any effects observed would be solely attributable to information stored in the liquids.

Analogously prepared water was used for control. Agitation procedures were performed using

the multi glass method (as opposed to the one glass or Korsakoff method). Grains were allowed

to germinate under defined conditions for 7 days, whereupon stalks were cut off and their

lengths were measured. Germination rates were monitored in parallel. All experiments were

conducted blindly.

Part III, The effect of ultramolecular agitated gibberellic acid (10-30

) on wheat stalk growth – a

two researcher pilot study [Pfleger, Hofäcker et al. 2011] deals with preliminary trials on the


11

model. These botanical experiments were based on the two abovementioned principles which

represent the foundation of homeopathy.

The Objective of the study was to test the influence of an extreme dilution of gibberellic acid

(10-30

, prepared according to a protocol derived from homeopathy) on wheat germination and

stalk length.

The following Methods were employed:

A 5millimolar solution of gibberellic acid in acetone was prepared and subsequently diluted and

agitated according to a standardized protocol. Analogously prepared solvent was used for

control.

Wheat grains (Triticum aestivum, Capo variety, stemming from organic farming) were put into

glass dishes as shown in Fig. 2. A total of 4,880 grains were used with 20 grains per dish.

5 ml of the verum or control probe were added to each dish whereupon dishes were covered

with 1000 ml glass vessels. They were placed in alternating rows according to a random

procedure (stratified randomisation). After 7 days under defined conditions (darkness,

temperature of 21.5 ± 1º C) germination rates and stalk lengths were observed (Fig. 3). Stalks

were cut off prior to measurement.

Addition of probes and evaluation of data were both done blindly.

Fig. 2: Placement of grains. Fig.3: Example of stalk growth.

Figure from Figure from

[Pfleger, Hofäcker et al. 2011] [Pfleger, Hofäcker et al. 2011]


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Results: Data were in general found to be homogeneous within the control group as well as the

verum group. Germination rates were around 95 %, with no significant difference between

verum and control group (p > 0.05). Mean stalk lengths (mm) were 40.63 + 20.96 for the verum

and 44.33 + 21.11 for the control group (mean + S.D.) at grain level (N = 2,440 per group) and

+ 5.33 and + 5.89 respectively at dish level (122 cohorts of 20 grains per treatment group). In

other words, verum stalk length (91.65%) was 8.35% smaller than control stalk length (100%).

This difference is statistically highly significant (p < 0.001) and was found by both researchers

independently.

The Conclusion of Part III is that homeopathically prepared highly diluted gibberellic acid

influences wheat stalk growth and – in the case of this study – decreases it.

Part IV, Seasonal variation of the effect of ultramolecular agitated gibberellic acid (10-30

) on

wheat stalk growth – a multi researcher study [Reich, Matzer et al. 2011] is based on the same

background as Part III and aims at a standardization of the bio-assay.

The Objective of the study presented here was to gain knowledge about the effects of gibberellic

acid D30 on wheat stalk growth in different seasons of the year.

The Methods of preparing the test dilutions and wheat material were identical with those

outlined in Part III, the only two differences being the use of double destilled water in preparing

the basic solutions (gibberellic acid D1 and water D1 respectively) for some of the experiments

and the number of grains deployed ( about 15,000).

9 experiments were performed in autumn season, and 6 experiments in winter/spring. 8

researchers – see [Reich, Matzer et.al 2011] – were involved in these trials which were

coordinated by P.C. Endler. All experiments were conducted and evaluated blindly.

In terms of germination rates and homogeneity of data, the Results were similar to those of Part

III. All of the 9 autumn experiments showed less stalk growth in the verum group (statistically

significant with p < 0.01 in 4, with p < 0.05 in 3 cases, trend in 2 cases; see Fig. 4 overleaf).

Mean stalk lengths (mm) were 46.97 + 20.50 for the verum group and 50.66 + 19.77 for control

(mean + S.D.) at grain level (N = 4,440 per group) and + 3.87 and + 3.38 (+ S.D.) respectively

at dish level (217 cohorts of 20 or 25 grains per treatment group). In other words, verum stalk


13

length (92.72%) was 7.28% smaller than control stalk length (100%). The effect size (Δ means :

S.D.), calculated on the basis of dishes, was high (d = 1.02).

Fig. 4: Relative differences in stalk length between W30x groups (zeroed) and G30x groups in

per cent (ordinate). 1 – 9 = experiments carried out during autumn. For further explanations

see text. Taken from [Reich, Matzer et.al 2011]

When all the autumn experiments were pooled, mean stalk lengths (mm) were 46.97 + 20.50 for

the verum group and 50.66 + 19.77 for control (mean + S.D.) at grain level (N = 4,440 per

group) and + 3.87 and + 3.38 respectively at dish level (217 cohorts of 20 or 25 grains per

treatment group). In other words, verum stalk length (92.72%) was 7.28% smaller than control

stalk length (100%). The effect size is small when calculated on the basis of grains (d = 0.18)

but, due to the smaller S.D. at dish level, high when calculated on the basis of dishes (d = 1.02).

In contrast, no reliable effect was found in experiments performed in winter/spring (less stalk

growth in the verum group in one case, no difference in 2 cases, and more growth in 3 cases; see

Fig. 5 overleaf). Overall verum stalk length (103.64%) was slightly greater than control stalk

length (100%). The effect size, however, was small (d = 0.45).


14

Fig. 5: Stalk growth in the winter/spring experiments. For further explanations see Fig. 4 and

text. From [Reich, Matzer et.al 2011].

Conclusion: We interpret the outcome of Part IV as being in line with Part III findings, i.e. as

confirmation that gibberellic acid D30 does influence stalk growth. This outcome underpins the

hypothesis that information can be stored in the test liquid even at a dilution of the original

substance beyond Avogadro‟s value, and that the wheat bio-assay is sensitive to such

information. We also established that outcomes to this effect are best obtained in the autumn

season, i.e. that experiments should be performed during this time of year.


15

MAIN BODY


16

Part I - [Endler, Thieves et al. 2009]

Repetitions of fundamental research models for homeopathically prepared


: a bibliometric study

Published as: PC Endler, K Thieves, C Reich*, P Matthiesen, L Bonamin, C Scherr and

S Baumgartner. Repetitions of fundamental research models for homeopathically prepared


: a bibliometric study. Homeopathy (2010) 99, 25-36.

*Corresponding author

This study is cited by P.C. Endler in a letter to the editor of Science magazine.

(Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 11:40:31)

http://talk.sciencemag.org/nodes/btoy2010.html

http://talk.sciencemag.org/nodes/btoy2010.html


17

At large Part I and Part II of this volume give a survey on follow-up research on fundamental

research models for ultramolecular homeopathically prepared dilutions, i.e. beyond 10-23

.

They show that the frequency in follow-up research and the consistency in follow-up results

have considerably improved over the past 10 years.


18


19


20


21


22


23


24


25


26


27


28


29


30

Part II - [Reich, Bonamin, Endler 2011]

Further aspects on replications of fundamental research on homeopathic dilutions

beyond 10-23

Manuscript accepted after peer review at the Interuniversity College and in preparation for

submission 2011.


31

The paper presented here is based on Part I of the volume. Parts of the Methods section and

table 2 of Part I are reiterated.

Furthermore, a score estimating the scientific impact of different models is presented.


32

Original Article

Further aspects on replications of fundamental research on homeopathic


C Reich1, LV Bonamin

2,3, PC Endler

1*

1 Interuniversity College for Health and Development Graz / Castle of Seggau, Austria

2 Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil

3 Universidade de Santo Amaro, São Paulo, Brazil

*Correspondence: Interuniversity College for Health and Development Graz / Castle of Seggau,

Petrifelderstr. 4, A-8042 Graz, Austria. E-mail: [email protected]

Annotation

Following an abstract by Thieves [1] at the European Congress for Integrative Medicine 2009, a first

full paper on this research project was published by Endler, Thieves, Reich, Matthiessen, Bonamin,

Scherr and Baumgartner in Homeopathy 2010; 99: 25-36 [2]. The present follow-up paper reiterates

parts of the Methods section and of table 2 of the first for the sake of readers not familiar with the

initial paper. The team thank Homeopathy for kindly assenting to this.

Abstract

Introduction: The state of replication of fundamental research models for homeopathically prepared

dilutions beyond 10e-23 is part of a current evaluation project.

Methods: Follow-up research is presented for each of the disciplines “biochemistry”, “cultured mammalian

cells”, “plants”, “isolated immune cells”, “isolated organs” and “animals”, together with a score estimating

the scientific impact of different models, i.e. the value of pursuing them further. Replication studies were

classified as intra-laboratory, multicenter or independent.

Results: 41 Studies on 8 models were performed on animals, with significant results in 93% and zero

results in 7%; 28 studies on 5 models on isolated immune cells, with significant results in 79% (significant,

yet opposed results in 7%) and zero results in 21%; 23 studies on 5 models on plants, with significant

results in 83% (22% opposed) and zero results in 17%; 9 studies on 4 biochemical models, with significant

results in 78% (11% opposed) and zero results in 22%; 4 studies on a model with isolated organs, with

significant results in 100%; 2 studies on a model with cultured mammalian cells, with a significant result in

one study. When all replication studies are considered, 69% reported effects similar to that of the initial

study, 10% different effects, and 21% zero effects. Multicenter or fully independently performed replication

studies reported 51% similar effects, 17% different effects, and 31% zero effects.

Conclusions: 10 years after the last comparable systematic literature collection the frequency and

consistency in follow-up results has considerably improved.

Keywords: review; basic research; homeopathy; potentisation; ultra high dilutions


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1. Introduction

In the recent decade, intra-laboratory, multicenter or independent replications of fundamental experiments

have become part of the state of the art in research on homeopathy. Whilst in 1999 a review by Vickers [3]

showed only poor evidence of multicenter or independent replication, our team now identified several

models that had been thoroughly re-examined after their initial publication. Furthermore, also the number

of first publications that are based on multicenter studies rather than single laboratory studies has

increased.

One of the main questions of basic research into homeopathic preparations is whether the effects

observed are deterministic in nature or not [1,2], i.e. whether they depend on the experimental stimulus

(which then may be modulated by further factors such as chronobiological influences) or whether they are

due to random factors. Thus, intra-laboratory as well as multicenter and independent replications are

indispensable.

This publication therefore tries to give an overview of fundamental biochemical and biological studies that

used high homeopathic potencies, and on which there have been repeat trials. In other words,

physicochemical or clinical studies were not included, nor studies on dilutions below 10-23

, nor studies in

relation to which no attempt of replication has been found in literature.

Going beyond the first survey [2], this study groups the studies and models under review into the following

disciplines: “biochemistry”, “cultured mammalian cells”, “plants”, “isolated immune cells”, “isolated organs”

and “animals”. Furthermore, a score for models was defined in order to obtain a rough estimate on how

much promise they hold with regard to further replication. In deviation from [1,2], the authors distinguished

between “multicenter” and “independent” studies in order to revalorize the idea of multicenter studies in

homeopathy research.

2. Methods

2.1 Literature search

Sources of information were reviews [3-11], personal contact with members of the homeopathic

basic research community, specially the GIRI, and the MEDLINE (www.pubmed.gov) and

HOMBREX (www.carstens-stiftung.de) databases. Allowed literature sources were publications (in

peer-reviewed and not peer-reviewed journals, book sections and books) as well as theses.

Although the team have done what seemed possible to identify relevant studies, the annotated

bibliography presented here does not claim to be exhaustive.

2.2 Inclusion criteria

Biochemical, immunological, botanical, cell biological and zoological studies on high potencies, i.e. > 12c

or 24x were included. Studies published after 1940 had to report evaluation of results by statistical

methods (minimum requirement: mean or median, number n of samples, standard deviation or standard

error, OR number n of samples, level of significance of a statistical test). Results reported, i.e. differences

between potency and control group, were statistically significant or not significant.

To be included the experiment had to have been repeated. Replication was formally defined by identifying

either at least two publications with independent authorship (dealing with the same experimental model,

see below), or at least one publication reporting on a multicenter trial (independent experiments in different

locations/laboratories, organized by one study coordinator), or at least two publications by the same initial

working group, including a follow up trial of a initial publication (internal replication).

Furthermore, a replication was defined by the use of one and the same experimental model (e.g. algae

Chlorella) and one and the same potentized substance (e.g. copper sulphate). Within these clusters,

http://www.pubmed.gov/

http://www.carstens-stiftung.de/


34

however, some differences were accepted both in the model (e.g. the use of Chlorella vulgaris or Chlorella

pyrenoidosa), in the potency level (e.g. 25x or 30x) and potency type (centesimal (c) or decimal (x)) and in

the nature of the control (e.g. unsuccussed, succussed, potentized, or type not mentioned).

One and the same publication could refer to the results of more than one study. Specifically for multi-

centre trials, the number of studies corresponds to the number of independent experiments in different

locations/laboratories. All studies from the included publications and grouped them into experimental

models were extracted (see above). Studies were further sorted according to results achieved

(consistent/different/none) as well as replication type (within-laboratory/multicenter/independent).

2.3 Studies were sorted according to the results achieved as follows:

1. Initial studies that have meanwhile led to follow up studies.

2. Repeated studies referring to (1), the results of which were consistent with (1) i.e. where a similar

effect (in the same direction, e.g. enhancing growth) was found.

3. Repeated studies referring to (1), the results of which were statistically significant, but different

from (1), i.e. when effects were different in direction (e.g. decreasing instead of increasing).

4. Repeated studies referring to (1), the results of which were not statistically significant, i.e. where

no effect (zero effect) was found.

2.4 Study types 1 to 4 were furthermore classified according to replication type:

A. Studies that have essentially been performed by one researcher or one working group („initial

working group studies“). When the name of that person could not be identified from the

publication, the first author‟s name was mentioned. This category also includes replications by

one and the same researcher and successive replications by different researchers in one and the

same laboratory.

B. Multicenter studies, i.e. studies that were centrally organised, but carried out by various

researchers in different laboratories, normally leading to a team authorship publication.

C. Independent replications, i.e. studies that were carried out in an independent laboratory,

organized independently, i.e. not by the initial laboratory.

2.5 Score estimating the scientific impact of different models

The following system was used to obtain a rough estimate on how much promise a model holds with

regard to further replication. Basically, the authors assumed that each publication was equally valid, i.e.

this score does not consider differences in the quality of the studies or their publications. Then it was

assumed that the result of a repeat study need not necessarily confirm, but can equally well be different

(opposite) to that of the initial study in order to be considered interesting, i.e. the score only differentiates

between “effect” (be it similar to the initial study or inverted) and “no effect”. Furthermore, no difference in

weighting was made between intra-laboratory, multicenter or independent results. Thus, the formula for the

score runs:

[(%studies with significant effect - %studies with zero effect) x (Nstudies)]

For each model, first the percentage of studies was calculated that reported a significant effect (i.e. the

initial study plus those replication studies where a similar or a different effect was found divided by the total

number of studies). Next the percentage of replication studies where no effect (zero effect) was found was

subtracted from the above. The outcome of this was multiplied by the total number of studies performed on

the model.

Thus, the highest scores were obtained for models on which many studies were performed, of which a

high proportion yielded significant results.


35

3. Results

3.1 Information on the studies

Table 1 classifies the identified studies according to the results achieved (significant effect in the same

direction as in the initial study, effect significant in a different direction, zero effect) for the disciplines

“biochemistry”, “cultured mammalian cells”, “plants”, “isolated immune cells”, “isolated organs” and

“animals”.

Most of the fundamental biological research was performed on animal models (41 studies on 8 models),

with significant results in 93% and zero results in 7%; 28 studies on 5 models were performed on isolated

immune cells, with significant results in 79% and zero results in 21%; 23 studies on 5 models were

performed on plants, with significant results in 83% and zero results in 17%; 9 studies were performed on

4 biochemical models, with significant results in 78% and zero results in 22%; 4 studies were performed on

a model with isolated organs, with significant results in 100%; 2 studies were performed on a model with

cultured mammalian cells, with significant results in one study.

24 models were covered in total [12-98]. In 85 publications [12-60,62-95,97-98], a total of 107 studies was

found, i.e. one and the same publication could refer to the results of more than one study. Two further

publications [61,96] provided additional details on other publications [62, 95]. Further comments on the

table are given in Homeopathy [2].

Table 1 (overleaf): Replication studies in fundamental homeopathy research on homeopathically

prepared dilutions beyond 10-23

in the disciplines “biochemistry”, “cultured mammalian cells”,

“plants”, “isolated immune cells”, “isolated organs” and “animals”. Studies were classified

according the results achieved (similar, different, zero effect) and the type of repeat study (internal,

multicenter, independent trial).


36

biochemistry: 4 models with a total of 9 studies

1: initial studies 2: repetition + 3: repetition D 4: repetition 0

A single 4 2

B multi.

C indep. 1 2

resumee: significant effect in 7 out of 9 studies

cultures mammalian cells: 1 model with a total of 2 studies


A single 1

B multi.

C indep. 1


plants: 5 models with a total of 23 studies


A single 5 6 1 1

B multi. 2 2 1

C indep. 1 2 2


isolated immune cells: 5 models with a total of 28 studies


A single 5 8 1 1

B multi. 3 1

C indep. 4 1 4


isolated organs: 1 model with a total of 4 studies


A single 1

B multi.

C indep. 3

resumee: significant effect in all 4 studies

animals: 8 models with a total of 41 studies


A single 6 19 3

B multi. 8 3

C indep. 2


Table 1. Legend above


37

Table 2 ( overleaf, from Homeopathy [2], supplemented): Repeated fundamental research studies

into homeopathically prepared dilutions beyond 10-23

. Studies were classified according the results

achieved (similar, different, zero effect) and the type of replication (internal, multicenter,

independent trial). Multicenter studies were listed separately for the centres involved. The name of

the researcher is mentioned when it could be identified from the publication, otherwise the first

author’s name is referred to. Numbers on the right refer to N, number of studies; +, percentage of

studies yielding similar results; , percentage of studies yielding different (opposite) results; -,

percentage of studies yielding zero results; SP, score points (see Methods).

A total of 107 studies were found. Of these, 30 were presented in initial publications, namely 22 performed

by one working group, and 8 performed in a multicenter setting. In the attempt to reproduce one of these

initial studies, 53 follow up studies yielded similar effects, namely 35 performed as a replication by the

same initial working group, and 18 performed as a replication in a multicenter or fully independent setting.

Eight studies showed a consistent (i.e. homogenious and statistically significant) result, yet different from

the initial study, namely 2 performed as a replication by the same initial working group, and 6 performed as

a replication in a multicenter or fully independent setting. In the attempt to reproduce one of the 30 initial

studies, 16 studies yielded zero effect, namely 5 performed as a replication by the same initial working

group, and 11 performed as a replication in a multicenter or fully independent setting.


38

Continued on p.39.


39

Continued on p. 40.


40

When all repeat (i.e. excluding the initial) studies are considered (i.e. a total of 77), 69% reported an effect

similar to that of the initial study, 10% a different effect and 21% zero effect. Replications in the same


41

laboratory (i.e. a total of 42 studies) reported 84% similar effects, 5% different effects, and 11% zero

effects.

Multicenter or fully independently performed replication studies (i.e. a total of 35) reported 52% similar

effects, 17% different effects, and 31% zero effects (Fig. 1).

Independent and multicenter

comparable

different

zero effect

Laboratory internal

comparable

different

zero effect

Figure 1: Numerical summary of table 1, at the level of studies. The number of studies within a

given category was counted and referred to the sum of the replication type category (set to 100%).

For further information see text.


42

A total of 24 models have been used. There have been reported comparable results with regard to 22

models, different results with regard to 6 models, and zero effects with regard to 15 models. These

numbers mirror the fact that certain models yielded diverse results in repeat trials (e.g. comparable and

different effects).

3.2 Score estimating the scientific impact of different models

A score was defined to provide a rough estimate of the scientific impact of different models (see Methods),

i.e. the value of pursuing them further.

The range was 1292 points, with a maximum of 1292 and a minimum of 0 points (see Table 1).

According to this impact score, the most promising models (ranking in the upper third) are

Human basophil degranulation after treatment with potencies of histamine [24,48-57,87], (1292

score points), with an inhibition of degranulation observed in 13 out of 17 studies.

Amphibian metamorphosis after treatment with potencies of thyroxin (highland R. temporaria) or

thyroidinum (R. catabesiana) [28,62-64], (902 points), with a decrease of metamorphosis speed

in 10 out of 11 studies

Mice poisoned with arsenic trioxide after treatment with arsenicum album [31,67-73], (800 points),

with stimulation of damage repair in all studies

Wheat seedlings poisoned with arsenic after treatment with arsenicum album [19,40-42,83,84],

(504 points), with stimulation of germination rate and growth in 4 studies, decrease of germination

and growth in 2 studies and no result in one study

Amphibian metamorphosis and thyroxin sealed in glass vials [30,65,95], (504 points), with a

decrease of metamorphosis speed in 6 out of 7 studies

Wheat seedlings after treatment with gibberellic acid [21,44,45,85,86], (500 points), with decrease

of stalk growth in 3 studies and increase in 2 studies

Thrombus formation in rats after treatment with acetyl salicylic acid [35,78-81], (500 points), with

increase of thrombus formation in all studies

Rat intestine contraction in vitro after treatment with potencies of atropa belladonna or atropine

sulfate27,58-60, (400 points), with increase or decrease of contraction at different potency levels

in all studies

Protection of mercury poisoned mice by potentized mercury [32,74-76], (400 points), with a

protective effect found in all 4 studies.

4.Discussion

Most of the fundamental biological research was performed on animal models (41 studies on 8 models),

with significant results in 93% and zero results in 7%; 28 studies on 5 models were performed on isolated

immune cells, with significant results in 79% and zero results in 21%; 23 studies on 5 models were

performed on plants, with significant results in 83% and zero results in 17%; 9 studies were performed on

4 biochemical models, with significant results in 78% and zero results in 22%; 4 studies were performed on

a model with isolated organs, with significant results in 100%; 2 studies were performed on a model with

cultured mammalian cells, with significant results in one study.

4.1 The multicenter approach

When all repeat (but not the initial) studies are considered, 69% report an effect comparable to that of the

initial study, 10% a different effect and 21% zero effect. This relation is fairly well reflected by multicenter

studies, i.e. studies that were centrally organised, but carried out by various researchers in different

laboratories, namely 66% comparable, 17% different and 17% zero effects. Thus, multicenter studies

seem to be an adequate tool to investigate basic high potency models.


43

On the other hand, initial researcher or working group studies show 83% comparable, 5% different and

12% zero effects and may include methodological influences that could not be made explicit in the

publications, including possible researcher effects [99(p.52f)].

The situation is also different when only the independent replication studies are taken into account (44%

comparable, 17% different, 39% zero effect). Some of these may lack detailed laboratory know-how

transfer that can be better obtained when a training phase in the initial laboratory precedes the attempt to

repeat a study.

4.2 Inverted results

With regard to inverted (“different”) results in replication studies, botanical researchers have assumed

seasonal influences on the effect of high potentized gibberellic acid on wheat: first experiments performed

in autumn led to a decrease, while first experiments in winter tended to lead to an increase of stalk growth

[100]. Seasonal variations have also been demonstrated by Guenoum [101]. Unidentified and therefore

unknown factors leading to effect inversions have been discussed [2,5]. Identification of such parameters

would substantially contribute to scientific progress.

Furthermore, homeopathy (like other regulatory methods) provides a certain background to classify and

understand inverse effects. This is presumably due to the complexity of the nonlinear stimulus-response

relationships that underlie homeopathic effects [102-104]. The notion of “ortho-taxic” and “anti-taxic”

effects has been suggested by P. Fisher [29]. Inverse effects are known among homeopathic therapists

e.g. as “initial aggravation”.

A more general interpretation of the phenomenon of effect inversion focuses on the status of the living

system and has been systematically described in previous studies [105,106].

4.3 Zero results

Irreproducibility of results can be due to the fact that the results of the initial studies were artifacts

(meaning false-positive results), e.g. due to contamination, systematic drifts or stochastic noise of the

experimental set-up, which are wrongly interpreted as treatment effects. The same reasons as discussed

for effect inversions may also lead to zero effects: uncontrolled relevant parameters, inappropriate

outcome measures, or system inherent irreproducibility [5].

4.4 Crucial parameters

In high dilution experiments, so far, we know four model systems where at least one relevant parameter

crucial for successful replication could be identified. In the amphibian metamorphosis model system

developed by Endler et al. [28], only animals from highland biotopes consistently respond to a treatment

with homeopathically potentized thyroxin [63], presumably due to a higher endogenous level of thyroxin or

higher susceptibility to thyroxin. In the dwarf pea model of Baumgartner et al. [20], seed quality

(supposedly premature harvest) was identified as relevant trigger factor for a response to a treatment with

homeopathic preparations of gibberellic acid [43]. In another model with gibberellic acid, wheat stalk

growth experiments obviously have to be performed rather in autumn than in winter to lead to reliably

reproducible results [21,44,45,85,86]. In the mice model of Larue and Cal [32,74,75,76], annual

chronobiological rhythms modulate the protective effect of an isopathic treatment with mercury. In these

models, the state of the living system seems to determine the effect [105,106].

4.5 Score with regard to the impact of different models

It goes without saying that any score or ranking does not “reflect reality”, but is simply a tool to classify

items according to special necessities. The aim of the score used here was to obtain a rough estimate of

the scientific impact of different models and hence the value of pursuing them further. The score was so


44

defined that it was highest for models on which many studies were performed, of which a high proportion

yielded significant results (be these similar or inverted with regard to the original results).

According to this score system, the most promising models deal with human basophil degranulation after

treatment with potencies of histamine, highland amphibian metamorphosis after treatment with potencies

of thyroxin, mice poisoned with arsenic trioxide after treatment with arsenicum album, wheat seedlings

poisoned with arsenic after treatment with arsenicum album, wheat seedlings after treatment with

gibberellic acid, thrombus formation in rats after treatment with acetyl salicylic acid, rat intestine contraction

in vitro after treatment with potencies of atropa belladonna or atropine sulfate, and protection of mercury

poisoned mice by potentized mercury (for references, see Results section).

4.6 Identified and not (yet) identified models

All initial studies collected in this series of publications were followed up with further studies. Thus, the

models concerned have been more profoundly researched than many others. This gives them a special

weight in the frame of scientific exploration. However, many studies in the field have not been followed up

or repeated so far, even though they may be worthy candidates for follow-up research.

Quality standards for publications to be included were not set too high, i.e. we are not referring to “Gold

Standard” publications only [107,108]. However, even models that have not been included because

publications did not meet the basic requirements may, of course, be interesting candidates.

Last not least, research models that have up to now only been tested with regard to low or middle

potencies may also be good candidates for investigations on high dilutions: an up-to-date bibliometric

study of replication studies on homeopathically prepared low or middle dilutions could be rewarding to

identify further promising models.

4.7 Conclusion

The team found 8 models on animals, 5 on isolated organs, 5 on plants, 4 on biochemistry, 4 on isolated

organs and 2 on mammalian cells, i.e. 24 experimental models, which were repeatedly investigated.

Thus, 10 years after the last comparable systematic literature collection [9] the team conclude that the

frequency and consistency in results of repeat and follow-up investigations in basic homeopathy research

has considerably improved.

The authors strongly encourage further replications of experiments on models that already meet criteria

like follow-up replication, publication aligning standards such as the guidelines for studies in homeopathy

[107,108], and whose original authors are willing to have independent colleagues train in their laboratory in

preparation of follow-up research.

However, we are aware that hitherto successful replication of a model does not guarantee its general

repeatability. The idea of a “last and final proof”, the “once and for all study”, is alien both to the theory of

science [109,110] as well as to the authors‟ personal research experience [99]. The same holds true for

high ranking scores – there may always be surprises with regard to the “market value” of a model.

On the other hand, models that do not meet the “ideal” criteria, such as unrepeated and badly published

models, with non-responsive original authors, may be found to be rewarding candidates. As always in

science: sound criteria are important, but the initial step to fruitful research can be purely intuitive and

explorative [111].


45

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

None apart from the research budget of the Interuniversity College.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks are due to the coauthors in the first publication of this series, as well as Tim Jäger and

Vera Majewsky for their input and the libraries of the Karl und Veronica Carstens foundation (Daniela

Hacke) and the Deutsche Homöopathie Union (Susanne Rehm) for their generous supply of articles.

ANNOTATION

The authors will be grateful for comments and further information on relevant studies that fit the

inclusion criteria of the bibliography.


46

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54

Part III - [Pfleger, Hofäcker et al. 2011]

The effect of ultramolecular agitated gibberellic acid (10-30

) on wheat stalk growth – a two

researcher pilot study

Original title: The effect of extremely diluted agitated gibberellic acid (10e-30) on wheat stalk

growth – a two researcher pilot study.

Manuscript accepted after peer review by “Complementary Therapies in Medicine”, 2011.


55

This study deals with preliminary trials on the wheat/gibberellic acid model. The botanical

experiments conducted are based on the fundamental principles of homeopathy, namely the Law

of Similars and the Potency Principle.

The Objective of the study was to test the influence of an extreme dilution of gibberellic acid

(10-30

, prepared according to a protocol derived from homeopathy) on wheat germination and

stalk length.

The following Methods were employed:

A 5millimolar solution of gibberellic acid in acetone was prepared and subsequently diluted and

agitated according to a standardized protocol. Analogously prepared solvent was used for

control.

Wheat grains (Triticum aestivum, Capo variety, stemming from organic farming) were put into

glass dishes. A total of 4,880 grains were used with 20 grains per dish.

5 ml of the verum or control probe were added to each dish whereupon dishes were covered

with 1000 ml glass vessels. They were placed in alternating rows according to a random

procedure (stratified randomisation). After 7 days under defined conditions (darkness,

temperature of 21.5 ± 1º C) germination and stalk lengths were observed. Stalks were cut off

prior to measurement.

Addition of probes and evaluation of data were both done blindly.

Results: Mean stalk lengths (mm) were 40.63 + 20.96 for the verum and 44.33 + 21.11 for the

control group (mean + S.D.) at grain level (N = 2,440 per group) and + 5.33 and + 5.89

respectively at dish level (122 cohorts of 20 grains per treatment group). In other words, verum

stalk length (91.65%) was 8.35% smaller than control stalk length (100%). This difference is

statistically highly significant (p < 0.001) and was found by both researchers independently.

The Conclusion of Part III is that homeopathically prepared highly diluted gibberellic acid

influences wheat stalk growth and – in the case of this study – decreased it.


56

The effect of extremely diluted agitated gibberellic acid (10e-30) on wheat

stalk growth – a two researcher pilote study

Andrea Pfleger

a, Jürgen Hofäcker

a, Waltraud Scherer-Pongratz

a, Harald Lothaller

a, Christian

Reich a*

, Peter Christian Endler a

a Interuniversity College for Health and Development Graz / Castle of Seggau, Austria

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +43 316 42 38 13; fax: +43 316 42 67 08

E-mail address: [email protected] (C. Reich)

Summary

Objective: Use of a wheat growth bio assay after 7 days in research on homeopathic dilutions of gibberellic

acid.

Methods: Grains of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum, Capo variety) were observed under the influence of

extremely diluted gibberellic acid (10-30

) prepared by stepwise dilution and agitation according to a protocol

derived from homeopathy (30x). Analogously prepared water was used for control. In a two centre study, 3

experiments with a total of 4,880 grains were performed.

Results: Data were found to be rather homogeneous within the control group as well as within the verum

group in general. Germination rates were around 95 %, with no significant difference between verum and

control group (p > 0.05). Mean stalk lengths (mm) were 40.63 + 20.96 for the verum and 44.33 + 21.11 for

the control group (mean + S.D.) at grain level (N = 2,440 per group) and + 5.33 and + 5.89 respectively at

dish level (122 cohorts of 20 grains per treatment group). In other words, verum stalk length (91.65%) was

8.35% smaller than control stalk length (100%). This difference is statistically highly significant (p < 0.001)

and was found by both researchers involved independently.

Conclusion: These results suggest that there was an influence of gibberellic acid 30x on wheat seedling

development, i.e. the wheat growth bio assay can be a useful tool for further experiments on homeopathic

dilutions of gibberellic acid.

Introduction

Fundamental research on homeopathy can proceed along different lines: 1 Research on the extreme

physiological sensitivity of living systems 2 – 3

; Research on the “principle of similarity” 4, 5

; Research on the

“principle of potentisation”. 6 - 9

Some evidence for substance specific effects of homeopathic potencies (i.e.

stepwise diluted and agitated solutions) in fundamental research has been reported. 10, 11

Some of these

studies focus entirely on the efficacy of potencies, with no regard to any of the other principles of

homeopathy. 11, 12

Other studies use potentised agents in order to investigate the idea of similarity.

Intoxication / detoxification experiments are an important tool in this field. 1, 8, 10 - 13

The present study can be classified as focussing on the principle of potentisation. However, because of

the natural gibberellic acid metabolism found in plants it may additionally offer insights relating to the idea

of homeopathic “similarity”.

The bio-assay on wheat stalk growth has been used in studies on homeopathy for decades, originally

using potentised metal salts. 15 - 17

For our team, the use of potentised hormones has been inspired by our

own zoological studies (on amphibian and thyroxin) 18 - 23

and by botanical studies of Baumgartner (dwarf

pea shoot growth and gibberellic acid). 9, 24

Experiments showed a reproducible effect of diluted agitated

probes in some but not all sub experiments and an interesting significant increase in variation in one sub

experiment. 9, 24

mailto:[email protected]


57

Homeopathically prepared gibberellic acid was also tested on barley stalk length, with different results

according to seedlings‟ vigour levels. 25

The aim of the study presented here was to test the influence of an extreme dilution of gibberellic acid

(30x) prepared according to a protocol derived from homeopathy on wheat germination and stalk length.

The research question was: Does treatment with gibberellic acid 30x result in altered germination

behaviour and / or stalk growth of wheat seedlings, measured after 7 days, when compared with

analogously prepared solvent?

Methods

Experiments were performed on wheat (Triticum aestivum, Capo variety, procured from Gosch organic

farming, Aibl, Austria) grain grown without herbicides or pesticides (harvest 2007). Wheat from one and

the same batch was used by both researchers. Around 10% of the grains were ruptured and around 10%

were distorted, and these were all removed prior to the experiment.

Different series of experiments were performed independently at the laboratory of the Interuniversity

College in Weiz near Graz (A.P., Oct. 2008; J.H., Nov. 2008) and at the laboratory of A.P. in St. Johann

im Pongau near Salzburg (April 2009). (For initials, see list of authors.) Laboratory workers both received

thorough training in the methods and procedures to be used (W.S.P.). They had no contact with each

other while experiments were in progress. The project was coordinated by W. M. and P.C.E.

All glass bottles and fastenings were disposable products; dishes, covering glass vessels and glass

pipettes for administration of the probes were heat sterilised and were (additionally) rinsed twice with

double distilled water prior to treatment. Plastic pipettes used for the dilution process were disposable

products. Germination took place in complete darkness at a temperature of 21,5 + 1°C depending on the

laboratory.

The test substance and control were prepared inspired by Baumgartner 9 according to the method of

stepwise dilution and succussion as derived from homeopathy. The degree of dilution was set to 10-30

in

order to exceed Avogadro‟s limit of theoretical 0-molarity (10-24

). Botanic hormone 10-30

(30x) was chosen

with regard to our previous experiments with a zoological hormone 30x. 18-23

Grains were observed under

the influence of gibberellic acid 30x, or of analogously prepared water control (30x), respectively. 3

different sets of test substance and control, respectively, were prepared, i.e. one for each experiment.

For preparation of the test dilutions, 0.017 g of gibberellic acid (Sigma-Aldrich company, art. nr. 36575)

were added to 9 ml of acetone and the liquid was gently swung (not “agitated”) for one minute (= “mother

mother substance was added to 9 ml of double distilled water in a 20 ml brown glass bottle (Heiland

company, art. nr. 380020) and the product was agitated vigorously according to a standardized protocol:

the vial was manually banged 30 times against an elastic surface at intervals of approximately 2s to create

mechanical shocks (= “gibberellin 2x”). In a total of 30 steps of dilution 1:10 and 29 steps of agitation (as

agitation was omitted at the first dilution step), the test substance “gibberellin 30x” was thus prepared.

Starting from the 28th

step, quantities larger than 1ml were added to the tenfold amount of double distilled

water in order to prepare a sufficient quantity of test substance. Larger brown glass bottles (each of which

was filled ½ with the liquid) were used for these last steps (29x: 250 ml, 30x: 500 ml). A new glass bottle

was used at each step of dilution.

Analogously prepared solvent (i.e. acetone in 1x, then distilled water in steps 2x – 30x) was used for

control (water 30x) to ensure that possibly solute contents of the glass wall were equally present both in

verum 30x and control 30x and thus were ruled out; furthermore, the content of solute oxygen was alike. If

a difference in growth occurred between seedlings treated with verum and control, it should then be due to

the presence or absence of gibberellic acid in the mother substance.


58

System performance controls: Experiments have shown that differential treatment with water 30x or with

water that has not undergone any preparation process at all (W0, negative control) produces no differences

in stalk length measured after one week (water 30x: 49.7 + 21.6 mm; W0: 49.9 + 21.24 mm) (N of grains

per group = 2000, temperature 22 + 1°C). By way of a positive system control it has been observed that

after one week stalk lengths are greater under treatment with gibberellic acid (10-4

: 53.8 + 22.1 mm; 10-6

:

46.9 + 22.5 mm) than in water control (44.8 + 22.6 mm) (N of grains per group = 200, temperature 21,5 +

1°C). Analyses of water control in analogous experiments in the past with the same spatial arrangement of

dishes and plants have shown a high degree of homogeneity within dishes of one and the same group.

Homogeneity is also investigated in the presented study.

Control and verum were encoded by further independent authorities. All probes were applied blindly,

codes were broken only after the data had been calculated.

Two sets of 122 dishes for treatment with verum and with control, respectively, were used for the

experiments. 20 grains were put into one dish, i.e. 2,440 grains were observed per treatment group. 12

subsets of 10 dishes (i.e. 200 grains) were defined per treatment group.

The grains were put into glass dishes (diameter 11 cm), each containing 2 layers of filter paper (Whatman,

cellulose, 90 mm, sort 2), with the germination furrow facing down (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1: Example for placement of grains.

5 ml of the verum or control probe were added to each dish with the help of a disposable 5 ml pipette and

pipetting ball (VWR company, art. nr. 612-1328 and 612-1947). Dishes were then covered with 1000 ml

glass vessels. They were placed in alternating rows according to a random procedure (stratified

randomisation) (Fig. 2). Grains had not been soaked prior to treatment.

Fig. 2: Example for stratified randomisation of dishes (V, verum; C, control).

C V V C C V V C

C V


59

Germination and stalk length (Fig. 3) were observed after 7 days according to standard protocol. 18

Stalks

were cut off prior to individual measurement. Subsets were harvested in the same sequence as they had

been planted. Measurement of endpoints was done blindly.

Fig. 3: Example of stalk growth.

The number of germinated seedlings was compared with the number of non-germinated seedlings (for the

groups according to the treatment) (in both the verum and the control group) in a four-field table according

to the chi square test. For description of stalk length, the statistical mean was used, and lengths were

compared by one way analysis of variance. S.D. and S.E. of the mean were calculated. S.D., S.E. and p-

values were also calculated by dish, for each cohort of 20 grains. Furthermore, the effect size (Cohen‟s d,

standardized difference of means = absolute difference between means of verum and control group,

divided by S.D.) was calculated. An effect size > 0.2 is regarded as small, > 0.5 as medium and > 0.8 as

large. Homogeneities of stalk lengths within the verum group and within the control group, respectively,

were investigated by one way analyses of variance with post-hoc pair wise comparisons by means of

Tukey HSD test. For control of inter-rater reliability, the interaction between “treatment” (verum versus

control) and “series of experiments” (AP1, HJ, AP2) was calculated by univariate two-way analyses of

variance. Evaluation of data was done blindly, i.e. the statistician (H.L.) was not aware of the meaning of

the codes used. Codes were broken only after calculation of results.

The methods and statistics of this model have been standardized through an international collaboration of

experts funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) 26

in collaboration with Peithner

Laboratories, Vienna. In preparing a more extensive documentation of the experiments, we have observed

the recommendations for good fundamental research documentation in homeopathy which were

elaborated by the K. and V. Carstens Foundation, Essen 27

.

Results

Experiments with a total of 2,440 grains treated with verum and 2,440 grains treated with control were

performed.


60

Germination rates were around 95 %, with no statistical differences between verum and control group (p >

0.05) (Tab. 1).

Tab. 1. Germination rates of wheat under the influence of extremely diluted agitated gibberellic acid (30x)

and control. A.P., experiments performed by Andrea Pfleger; J.H., by Jürgen Hofäcker.

G 30x W 30x

Series (N) (%) (%)

A.P.1 (1000+1000) 97.5 96.8

J.H. ( 940+ 940) 96.6 96.0

A.P.2 (500+ 500) 90.0 91.9

Stalk growth after 7 days was about 42 mm, with consistent differences between groups. Table 2 shows

the results for the 3 experiments performed independently by A.P. and J.H. (for initials, see list of authors).

S.D. as well as S.E. and p-values of comparisons of groups within the experiments by means of one-way

analysis of variance are given both at grain (left side of slash in the respective column) and dish level

(cohorts of 20 grains each) (right side of slash). The difference between verum and control groups was

found by both researchers involved independently: stalk length are smaller under treatment with gibberellic

acid 30x.

Tab. 2. Mean stalk lengths of wheat (mm) under the influence of extremely diluted agitated gibberellic acid

(30x) in 3 series of experiments; S.D., S.E. and p-values.

G 30x W 30x G 30x W 30x G 30x W 30x P

Researcher (N) mean mean S.D. S.D. S.E. S.E.

A.P.1 (1000+1000) 42.50 45.57 18.46 / 03.80 20.30 / 03.50 0.65 / 0.54 0.64 / 0.50 .002 / <.001

J.H. (940+ 940) 39.78 44.77 22.12 / 07.63 23.12 / 06.86 0.72 / 1.11 0.75 / 1.00 <.001 / .001

A.P.2 (500+ 500) 38.49 41.02 19.39 / 04.50 18.20 / 03.60 0.87 /0.09 0.81 / 0.72 .069 / .033

When the data of the 3 series of experiments were pooled, mean stalk lengths were 40.63 + 20.96 for the

verum group and 44.33 + 21.11 for control (mean + S.D.) at grain level (N = 2,440 per group) and + 5.89

and + 5.33 respectively at dish level (122 cohorts of 20 grains per treatment group).

In other words, verum stalk length (91.65%) was 8.35% smaller than control stalk length (100%). This

difference is statistically highly significant (p < 0.001). The effect size is small when calculation is done on

the basis of grains (Cohen‟s d = 0.18) but, due to the smaller S.D. at dish level, considerable when done

on the basis of dishes (d = 0.66).

Data were found to be homogeneous within the control group (e.g., F49;72 = 0.509, p = 0.993 for overall

sample when comparing dishes within group) as well as within the verum group (e.g., F49;72 = 0.769, p =

0.835 for overall sample when comparing dishes within group) in general. In other words, there are

significant differences between the average stalk lengths between the groups (verum or control, see

above), but no significant differences within the groups.

Discussion

When seedlings of winter wheat were observed under the influence of extremely diluted potentised

gibberellic acid (10-30

, i.e. 30x), in 3 experiments performed by 2 researchers in natural growth season

(autumn or spring), average verum stalk length was 8.35% smaller than control stalk length (p < 0.001).

These results suggest that there is an influence of gibberellic acid (30x) on wheat seedling development.


61

The results presented are comparable to Bauhofer. 26

In that experiment comprising 2.000 grains, means

of stalk length were significantly smaller for the verum group treated with gibberellic acid 23x (10-23

) than

for a control group treated with analogously potentised solvent (water 23x). A theoretical background also

exists due to other previous studies with wheat, 15 - 17

as well as with potentised hormones. 9,

18 – 24

Further

multi-centred botanical studies on dilutions above Avogadro‟s limit can be found in literature, namely on

algae and copper sulphate (growth stimulation of poisoned algae in the initial study only, but not in the

repetition), wheat and silver nitrate (increase of stalk growth in 4 out of 5 studies), arsenic poisoned wheat

and arsenicum album (growth stimulation in 2 studies, decrease of growth in 2 studies), dwarf peas and

gibberellic acid (growth increase for certain harvest lots only). 11

A weakness of that type of experiment is

that homeopathic studies on plants sometimes yield contradictory results, e.g. stimulation of growth in one

and inhibition of growth in another laboratory, both findings being homogeneous and statistically significant

within themselves. 29

One of the tasks of fundamental homeopathy research must therefore be to better

define the conditions (methodological, seasonal, geographic) which produce such results. 10

This two researcher study on gibberellic acid 30x is the first step of a more extensive research project.

Further repetitive experiments are performed by the original and by independent researchers. Additional

information is sought by using a plain water control (not potentised solvent), by using various sets of the

probes in parallel, and by using different batches and sources of the same wheat (sort Capo). The follow

up project also includes experiments at different times of the year in order to learn about seasonal

influences on the effect of potentised gibberellic acid (30x). While this paper was in print, results from the

follow up project confirmed our earlier findings on experiments performed during natural growth season,

whereas experiments in winter season seem to have different characteristics (in preparation for

publication).

We may here refer to our project (1989 – 2009) on amphibian metamorphosis under the influence of

dilutions of thyroxin. 18 – 23, 30

When in experiments special highland amphibian were used, effects of

extremely diluted agitated probes added to the basin water (30x, decrease of metamorphosis speed) were

independently found in 9 out of 10 studies performed by different researchers at sites including various

university laboratories. 18-22, 30

In contrast, animals from lowland biotopes obviously did not react to thyroxin

30x. 23

The project helped to study effects of further alternations to the original highland amphibian

protocol, and to highlight pitfalls and challenges in high dilution research. 10

It has also helped to illustrate

peculiarities of homeopathy research (such as inversions of effect and the need to use test animals from

special populations), and it has had an impact on consumer‟s questions on transport, storage and handling

of homeopathic pharmaceuticals, including issues of exposure to household electromagnetic fields, airport

X-raying etc. 30

The reason for standardizing the wheat / gibberellin model is to have a more ready to use

model at hand to investigate such and further questions that may also influence producers, consumers and

decision makers.

It may be of interest for the clinician and for students to be made familiar with homeopathic peculiarities

that the experiments presented here are linked to the biological concept of hormesis (inversion of effect

depending on the degree of dilution) and to the homeopathic concept of similarity. I.e., they investigate the

effect of a dilution of gibberellic acid administered externally to plants on a process otherwise controlled by

their natural gibberellic acid metabolism. It is well known that gibberellic acid enhances stalk growth in

seedlings. It has been observed that under treatment with gibberellic acid 10-4

, wheat stalks grow

considerably longer than in water control (see above System Performance Controls). In contrast,

gibberellic acid 30x has now been found to be able to reduce stalk length. This paradoxical behaviour is

reminiscent of our observations in highland amphibians. The hormone thyroxin physiologically enhances

metamorphosis, and treatment with additional thyroxin additionally speeds up this process, while thyroxin

30x reduces metamorphosis speed. 18, 21, 23

Baumgartner 24

found another type of inversion in as far as

gibberellic acid (17x) exerted an enhancing effect on dwarf pea shoot growth, dwarf peas being a

gibberellin lacking mutation. In clinical homeopathy, effects of dilutions both inverted and analogous with

regard to those of the mother substance are described (i.e. “healing effect” and “drug proving effect”).

Our interpretation of the present data is that gibberellic acid 30x has influenced stalk growth. This would

mean that information has been stored in the test liquid, although this was a dilution beyond Avogadro‟s


62

value; and that the botanical system is sensitive to such information. We can at present say that our model

with wheat and gibberellic acid seems to be a promising candidate for research backing the possibility of

information storage in homeopathically prepared high dilutions. 31

Conflict of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Annotation

This paper is part of a doctoral thesis project.

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detailed guideline for authors. Homeopathy 2009; 98: 287-298.

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65

Part IV – [Reich, Matzer et al. 2011]

The effect of ultramolecular agitated gibberellic acid (10-30

) on wheat seedling development –

seasonal variation in a multi researcher study

Original title: The effect of extremely diluted agitated gibberellic acid (10e-30) on wheat

seedling development – seasonal variation in a multi researcher study.

Manuscript accepted after peer review at the Interuniversity College and in preparation for

submission 2011.


66

Part IV is based on the same background as Part III and aims at a standardization of the

wheat/gibberellic acid bio-assay.

The Objective of the present study was to gain knowledge about the effects of gibberellic acid

D30 on wheat stalk growth in different seasons of the year.

The Methods of preparation of test dilutions and wheat material were identical with the Methods

outlined in Part III, the only two differences being the use of double destilled water in some of

the experiments for the preparation of the basic solutions (gibberellic acid D1 and water D1

respectively) and the number of grains deployed ( about 15,000).

9 experiments were performed in the autumn season, and 6 experiments in winter/spring. 8

researchers were involved in these trials which were coordinated by P.C. Endler. All

experiments were conducted and evaluated blindly.

The Results on germination rates and homogeneity of data were similar to those of Part III. All

of the 9 autumn experiments showed less stalk growth in the verum group (statistically

significant).

In contrast, no reliable effect was found in experiments performed in winter/spring.

Conclusion: We interpret the outcome of Part IV as being in line with Part III findings, i.e. as

confirmation that gibberellic acid D30 does influence stalk growth. This outcome underpins the

hypothesis that information can be stored in the test liquid even at a dilution of the original

substance beyond Avogadro‟s value, and that the wheat bio-assay is sensitive to such

information. We also established that outcomes to this effect are best obtained in the autumn

season, i.e. that experiments should be performed during this time of year.


67

The effect of extremely diluted agitated gibberellic acid (10e-30) on wheat

seedling development – seasonal variation in a multi researcher study

Christian Reich*,, Wolfgang Matzer, Thomas Reischl, Anna Maria Hartmann, Karin Thieves, Andrea

Pfleger, Jürgen Hofäcker, Harald Lothaller, Waltraud Scherer-Pongratz, Peter Christian Endler

Interuniversity College for Health and Development Graz / Castle of Seggau, Austria

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +43 316 42 38 13; fax: +43 316 42 67 08

E-mail address: [email protected]

Summary

Objective: To perform experiments on a wheat growth bio assay with a homeopathic high dilution of

gibberellic acid at different seasons of the year.

Methods: Grains of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum, Capo variety) were observed under the influence of

extremely diluted gibberellic acid (10-30

) prepared by stepwise dilution and agitation according to a protocol

derived from homeopathy (“G30x”). Analogously prepared water was used for control (“W30x”). 15

experiments were performed, 9 experiments in autumn season (5 researchers, about 9,000 grains), and 6

experiments in winter/spring (4 researchers, about 6,000 grains).

Results: Data were found to be homogeneous within the control groups as well as within the verum

groups.

Germination rates after 7 days were slightly higher for the autumn experiments (96.1%) than for the

winter/spring experiments (94.8%) (p > 0,05), with a non significant trend of more seedlings having

germinated in the verum group in the autumn experiments (p > 0,05).

All of the 9 autumn experiments showed less stalk growth in the verum group (statistically significant with p

< 0.01 in 4, with p < 0.05 in 3 cases, trend in 2 cases). Mean stalk lengths (mm) were 46.97 + 20.50 for the

verum group and 50.66 + 19.77 for control (mean + S.D.) at grain level (N = 4,440 per group) and + 3.87

and + 3.38 (+ S.D.) respectively at dish level (217 cohorts of 20 or 25 grains per treatment group). In other

words, verum stalk length (92.72%) was 7.28% smaller

means : S.D.), calculated on the basis of dishes, was high (d = 1.02).

In contrast, no reliable effect was found in experiments performed in winter/spring (less stalk growth in the

verum group in one case, no difference in 2 cases, and more growth in 3 cases). Overall verum stalk

length (103.64%) was slightly greater than control stalk length (100%). The effect size, however, was small

(d = 0.45).

Conclusion: We interpret the 2008-2009 data as being in line with our 2007 findings [4], i.e. as confirmation

that gibberellic acid 30x does influence stalk growth. This would further confirm the hypothesis that

information can be stored in the test liquid [4,17,19], even at a dilution of the original substance beyond

Avogadro‟s value; and that the wheat bio-assay [4] is sensitive to such information. We also established

that outcomes to this effect are best obtained in the autumn season, i.e. that experiments should be

performed in autumn season.

Introduction

The bio-assay on wheat stalk growth has been used in studies on homeopathy for decades, originally

using homeopathically prepared (potentized) metal salts [1]. An inhibition of growth by silver nitrate diluted



68

above Avogadro‟s value was found by 3 of 4 researchers (Kolisko, Scherer-Pongratz, Nograsek, but not

Endler) [2,3]. Pfleger et al. reported an inhibition of wheat growth by high diluted gibberellic acid [4]. Betti

et al. [5] and Brizzi et al. [6] reported a stimulation of wheat growth through treatment of the seeds with

high potencies of arsenic. On replicating the experiment however, Binder et al. [7] found a significant

decrease in longitudinal growth. It is interesting to note that in these cases, data were usually found to be

homogeneous within groups [8]. This has led to the idea that calculation on the basis of absolute

differences between means of verum and control group may be a useful statistical tool complementing

calculation of means alone [9].

For the study presented here, the use of ultra high diluted potentised hormones has been inspired by our

own zoological studies (on amphibians and thyroxin) [10-12] and by botanical studies of Baumgartner et al.

(dwarf pea shoot growth and gibberellic acid) [13,14]. Baumgartner‟s experiments showed a reproducible

stimulation of growth by the dilution 10-17

in some but not all subexperiments, depending on the harvest

lots used. Homeopathically prepared gibberellic acid was also tested on barley stalk length, with different

results according to seedlings‟ vigour levels [15].

The aim of the study presented here is to test the influence of an extreme dilution of gibberellic acid (10-30

,

30x) prepared according to a protocol derived from homeopathy on wheat germination and stalk length

after one week. The research question was: Does treatment with gibberellic acid 30x result in altered

germination behaviour and / or stalk growth of wheat seedlings, measured after 7 days, when compared

with analogously prepared solvent?

First results from experiments performed in autumn 2007 (see table 1, experiments A1-4) suggested an

inhibition of stalk growth by gibberellic acid 30x [4]. Further experiments (table 1, WS1-4) led to the idea

that gibberellic acid 30x causes inhibition of growth in autumn season only, whereas in winter it causes

stimulation of growth [9]. To investigate the hypothesis of seasonal dependency, further experiments (A5-

9, WS5) were performed and all data were submitted to a comprehensive analysis.

Methods

In preparing the documentation of the experiments, we have observed the recommendations for good

fundamental research documentation in homeopathy which were elaborated by the K. and V. Carstens

Foundation, Essen [16].

Plants

Experiments were performed on wheat (Triticum aestivum, Capo variety, procured from Gosch organic

farming, Aibl, Austria) grain grown without herbicides or pesticides (harvest 2007, 2008 and 2009). Around

10% of the grains were ruptured and around 10% were distorted, and these were all removed prior to the

experiment.

Researchers and sites (inter-researcher control), season

All autumn experiments were performed at the laboratory of the Interuniversity College in Weiz near Graz,

by 5 different researchers (see Table 1). Winter/spring experiments were performed at different locations

(Table 1), by 4 researchers. Laboratory workers both received thorough training in the methods and

procedures to be used (Scherer and Endler). They had no contact with each other while experiments were

in progress. The project was coordinated by Endler.

Laboratory conditions

All glass bottles and fastenings were disposable products; dishes, covering glass vessels and glass

pipettes for administration of the probes were heat sterilised and were (additionally) rinsed twice with

double distilled water prior to treatment. Plastic pipettes used for the dilution process were disposable

temperature of 21,5 + 1°C depending on the laboratory.


69

Preparation of test solutions

The test substance and control were prepared inspired by Baumgartner [13] according to the method of

stepwise dilution and succussion as derived from homeopathy. The degree of dilution was set to 10-30

in

order to exceed Avogadro‟s limit of theoretical 0-molarity (10-24

). Botanic hormone 10-30

(30x) was chosen

with regard to our previous experiments with a zoological hormone 30x [10-12]. Grains were observed

under the influence of gibberellic acid 30x, or of analogously prepared water control (30x), respectively.

Different sets of test substance and control, respectively, were prepared by different researchers (see

Table 1).

For preparation of the test dilutions, 0.017 g of gibberellic acid (Sigma-Aldrich company, art. nr. 36575)

were either added to 9 ml of acetone or to 9 ml of double distilled water (see Table 1) and the liquid was

gently swung (not “agitated”) for one minute (= “mother substance, 1x”). Then, using a disposable pipette

water in a 20 ml brown glass bottle (Heiland company, art. nr. 380020) and the product was agitated

vigorously according to a standardized protocol: the vial was manually banged 30 times against an elastic

surface at intervals of approximately 2s to create mechanical shocks (= “gibberellin 2x”). In a total of 30

steps of dilution 1:10 and 29 steps of agitation (as agitation was omitted at the first dilution step), the test

substance “gibberellin 30x” was thus prepared. Starting from the 28th

step, quantities larger than 1ml were

added to the tenfold amount of double distilled water in order to prepare a sufficient quantity of test

substance. Larger brown glass bottles (each of which was filled ½ with the liquid) were used for these last

steps (29x: 250 ml, 30x: 500 ml). A new glass bottle was used at each step of dilution.

Analogously prepared solvent (i.e. in 1x either acetone or water -see Table 1-, then water in steps 2x to

30x) was used for control (water 30x) to ensure that possibly solute contents of the glass wall were equally

present both in verum 30x and control 30x and thus their possible effect was ruled out, and that the

content of solute oxygen was alike. If a difference in growth occurred between seedlings treated with

verum and control, it should then be due to the presence or absence of gibberellic acid in the mother

substance.

Table 1 (overleaf) gives an overview of experiments performed grouped by time of season (A1-A9 in

autumn, WS1-WS6 in winter or spring).


70

nr. researcher year month lab. pot. acet. age dishes

A1 Pfleger 2007 Oct Weiz Pfleger yes 0 25

A2 Pfleger 2007 Oct Weiz Pfleger yes 0 25

A3 Hofäcker 2007 Dec Weiz Hofäck. yes 0 25

A4 Hofäcker 2007 Nov Weiz Hofäck. yes 0 22

A5 Reich 2008 Dec Weiz Reich yes 0 20

A6 Hartmann 2009 Sep Weiz Scherer no 0 25

A7 Scherer 2009 Oct Weiz Scherer no 0 25

A8 Scherer 2009 Dec Weiz Scherer no 0 25

A9 Scherer 2009 Dec Weiz Scherer no 0 25

WS1 Reischl 2009 Jan Weiz Reischl yes 1.5 20

WS2 Thieves 2009 Jan Gels. Reich yes 0.5 25

WS3 Thieves 2009 Jan Gels. Reich yes 0.5 25

WS4 Pfleger 2009 Feb St.Jo Pfleger no 0.5 32

WS5 Matzer 2010 Feb Weiz Scherer no 0.5 25

WS6 Pfleger 2008 Apr St.Jo Pfleger yes 0.5 25

Table 1: Overview of 7-day experiments on wheat germination under the influence of potentised gibberellic

acid (G30x) versus analogously potentised solvent (W30x) carried out at the Internuniversity College in the

time from 2007 to 2010. Work is shown subdivided into batches of ca. 500 grains G30x and W30x each,

referred to in the following as experiments. Altogether there were 15 such experiments, performed by 8

researchers. Legend: year and month = time of the experiment; lab. = laboratory in which the experiment

was carried out; pot = person preparing the potencies; acet. = whether the mother tincture (for both G30x

and W30x) contained acetone; age = age of the wheat at the time of the experiment in years; dishes =

number of germination dishes per group (dishes contained 20 or 25 grains each, depending on the

experiment, see Table 3).

System performance controls

Experiments have shown that differential treatment with water 30x or with water that has not undergone

any preparation process at all (W0, negative control) produces no differences in stalk length measured

after one week (water 30x: 49.7 + 21.6 mm; W0: 49.9 + 21.24 mm). In these experiments, N of grains per

group was 2000, and temperature was 21.5 + 1°C.

By way of a positive system control it has been observed that after one week stalk lengths are greater

under treatment with gibberellic acid at molecular doses (10-4

: 53.8 + 22.1 mm; 10-6

: 46.9 + 22.5 mm); than

in water control (44.8 + 22.6 mm) (N of grains per group = 200, temperature 20 + 1°C).

Analyses of water control in analogous experiments in the past with the same spatial arrangement of

dishes and plants have shown a high degree of homogeneity within dishes of one and the same group.

Homogeneity is also investigated in the present study.

Independent probe coding

Control and verum water were encoded by further independent authorities. All probes were applied blindly,

codes were broken only after the data had been calculated.


71

Data base

Two sets of 217 dishes for treatment with verum and with control, respectively, were used for the autumn

experiments. Depending on the researcher, 20 or 25 grains (see Table 3) were put into one dish, i.e. 4,440

grains were observed per treatment group.

For the experiments performed in winter/spring, two sets of 152 dishes were used, 3,140 grains were

observed per treatment group.

Placement of grains

The grains were put into glass dishes (diameter 11 cm), each containing 2 layers of filter paper (Whatman,

cellulose, 90 mm, sort 2), with the germination furrow facing down (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1: Example for placement of grains.

Exposition to probes

5 ml of the verum or control probe were added to each dish with the help of a disposable 5 ml pipette and

pipetting ball (VWR company, art. no. 612-1328 and 612-1947). Dishes were then covered with 1000 ml

glass vessels and dishes and covers were wrapped in aluminium foil.

Fig. 2: Example for placement of beakers.

They were placed in alternating rows according to a random procedure (stratified randomisation). Grains

had not been soaked prior to treatment.


72

Observed development (endpoints)

Germination and stalk length (Fig. 3) were observed after 7 days according to standard protocol [2]. Stalks

were cut off prior to individual measurement. Subsets were harvested in the same sequence as they had

been planted. Measurement of endpoints was done blindly.

Fig. 3: Example of stalk growth.

Data evaluation

The number of germinated seedlings was compared with the number of non-germinated seedlings in both

the verum and the control group in a four-field table according to the chi square test.

For description of stalk length, at the level of the 15 individual experiments, the statistical mean was used,

and lengths were compared by one way analysis of variance. S.D. of the mean was calculated. Mean and

S.D. were also calculated by dish, i.e. for each cohort of 20 or 25 grains. In order to avoid false negative

results, analysis of variance was not calculated at dish level, and to avoid false positive results, it was also

not calculated for the pooled experiments. For the pooled experiments, however, the effect size (Cohen‟s

d, standardized difference of means = absolute difference between means of verum and control group,

divided by S.D.) was calculated. An effect size > 0.2 is regarded as small, > 0.5 as medium and > 0.8 as

large.

Homogeneities of stalk lengths within the verum group and within the control group, respectively, were

investigated by one way analyses of variance with post-hoc pairwise comparisons by means of Tukey

HSD test.

For control of inter-rater reliability, the interaction between “treatment” (verum versus control) and

“experiments” was calculated by univariate two-way analyses of variance.

Evaluation of data was done blindly, i.e. the statistician (Lothaller) was not aware of the meaning of the

codes used. Codes were broken only after calculation of results.

Results at the level of single experiments were represented graphically by zeroing the results of the W30x

control groups and plotting the difference to the G30x groups on the abscissa. Results at dish level were

calculated by dish pair and ordered according the joint mean stalk length (arithmetic mean of mean stalk


73

length in the W30 dish and mean stalk length in the G30x dish assigned to it in the floorplan), and the

pairwise differences between means were plotted on the abscissa.

Results

Germination rates after 7 days were slightly higher for the autumn experiments (96.1%) than for the

winter/spring experiments (94.8%) (p > 0,05), with a non significant trend of more seedlings having

germinated in the verum group in the autumn experiments (p > 0,05) (see table 2, overleaf).

G 30x W 30x

Series (N) (%) (%)

autumn experiments 96.6 95.6

winter/spring exp. 94.8 94.8

Table 2. Germination rates of wheat after 7 days under the influence of extremely diluted agitated

gibberellic acid (30x) and control. For details, see Table 1.

Table 3 and Figures 4 and 5 give an overview of the 15 experiments.


74

mean mean S.D. S.D. p S.D. S.D. p

grains grains grains dishes dishes dishes

set grains W30x G30x W30x G30x G30x:W30x W30x G30x G30x:W30x

A1 all 500+500 47.13 42.50 20.31 21.13 0.010 3.11 3.62 <.001

germ. 488+482 48.28 44.09 19.14 19.82 0.001 3.33 3.6 <.001

A2 all 500+500 44.02 42.50 20.2 19.8 0.264 3.22 4.05 0.149

germ. 480+493 45.85 43.10 18.47 19.27 0.023 3.04 4.13 0.011

A3 all 500+500 45.6 40.68 24.23 23.4 0.001 8.1 9.95 0.061

germ. 478+476 47.7 42.73 22.66 22.07 0.001 8.9 9.84 0.094

A4 all 440+440 43.84 38.75 21.79 20.56 <.001 5.13 3.51 <.001

germ. 424+432 45.49 39.47 20.43 20.05 <.001 4.66 3.75 <.001

A5 all 500+500 57.01 53.48 20.34 19.23 0.011 4.69 3.67 0.091

germ. 466+460 61.97 57.38 11.9 13.13 0.015 3.31 2.46 0.242

A6 all 500+500 50.93 50.03 20.48 21.53 0.497 4.55 5.28 0.520

germ. 482+488 52.83 51.26 18.28 20.29 0.205 3.9 4.98 0.213

A7 all 500+500 49.02 46.74 21.27 21.25 0.091 4.77 6.34 0.158

germ. 49.91 47.79 20.39 20.28 0.103 4.63 5.97 0.161

A8 all 500+500 49.96 46.47 22.74 22.45 0.015 6.75 5.45 0.050

germ. 477+485 52.47 48.11 20.27 21.04 0.001 6.67 4.38 0.015

A9 all 500+500 48.99 46.29 21.97 23.34 0.060 6.83 6.21 0.150

germ. 476+477 51.36 48.32 19.61 21.69 0.023 5.91 5.64 0.151

WS1 all 500+500 53.62 57.62 20.17 22.43 0.001 4.61 4.19 0.070

germ. 478+480 56.21 60.75 16.77 18.45 <.001 3.96 3.49 <.001

WS2 all 500+500 52.34 57.39 17.46 20.27 0.001 3.86 6.61 0.002

germ. 486+478 53.85 59.91 15.24 16.66 <.001 3.4 6.16 0.013

WS3 all 500+500 54.18 54.38 21.16 19.27 0.999 5.56 4.93 0.901

germ. 454+467 59.67 58.11 12.84 13.41 0.071 4.26 3.54 0.399

WS4 all 640+640 50.41 55.45 15.60 17.23 0.001 6.56 8.27 0.009

germ. 620+623 52.04 56.96 12.90 14.79 <.001 7.13 8.72 0.008

WS5 all 500+500 47.84 46.21 13.36 13.7 0.185 2.46 4.21 0.233

Continued

on p.76


75

germ. 478+483 50.05 47.84 8.73 10.79 0.005 2.21 4.36 0.059

WS6 all 500+500 41.02 38.49 18.2 19.39 0.069 3.6 4.5 0.033

germ. 450+461 44.49 42.76 14.3 15.32 0.063 3.1 4.68 0.127

Table. 3: Overview of results of stalk length measurement in the experiments listed in Table 1, each shown

for “all grains” = all treated grains (upper line) and “germinated grains only” = only those grains which

germinated during the 7 days of the experiment (lower line). Legend: mean W30x = mean stalk length in

the W30 group (in mm); mean G30x = mean stalk length in the G30x group; S.D. = standard deviations:

“grains” = at grain level (i.e. s.d. of 500 values), “dishes” = at dish level (i.e. s.d. of 20 or 25 values). P =

significance level of differences between groups at grain level and dish level.

Variability was naturally lower at dish level than it was at grain level.

Figure 4 shows the differences between the mean stalk length of G30x and W30x seedlings by whole

experiment (non-geminated grains not considered). As can be seen, all autumn experiments on stalk

length showed shorter stalks in the G30x group after 7 days. The difference is significant with p < 0.01 for

experiments 1, 3, 4 and 8, with p < 0.05 for experiments 2, 5 and 9, and non-significant (p > 0.05) for

experiments 6 and 7.

Fig. 4: Relative differences in stalk length between W30x groups (zeroed) and G30x groups in per cent

(abscissa). 1 – 9 = experiments carried out during autumn. For further explanations see text.


76

When all the autumn experiments were pooled, mean stalk lengths (mm) were 46.97 + 20.50 for the verum

group and 50.66 + 19.77 for control (mean + S.D.) at grain level (N = 4,440 per group) and + 3.87 and +

3.38 respectively at dish level (217 cohorts of 20 or 25 grains per treatment group). In other words, verum

stalk length (92.72%) was 7.28% smaller than control stalk length (100%). The effect size is small when

calculation is done on the basis of grains (d = 0.18) but, due to the smaller S.D. at dish level, high when

done on the basis of dishes (d = 1.02).

In contrast, no reliable effect was found in experiments performed in winter/spring, as is seen in Fig. 5. In 3

experiments G30x seedlings grew longer than W30x seedlings (p < 0.01), in 2 experiments there was no

significant difference (p > 0,05), and in one experiment they grew shorter than W30x seedlings (p < 0.01).

Fig. 5: Stalk growth in the winter/spring experiments. For further explanations see Fig. 4 and text.

When all winter/spring experiments were pooled, mean stalk lengths (mm) were 54.60 + 16.41 for the

verum group and 52.68 + 14.41 for control at grain level (N = 3,140 per group) and + 4.93 and + 3.59

respectively at dish level (152 cohorts of 20 or 25 grains per treatment group), i.e. overall verum stalk

length (103.64%) was 3.64% greater than control stalk length (100%). The effect size is small when both

when calculation is done on the basis of grains (d = 0.13) and on the basis of dishes (d = 0.45).

These results suggest that in the experiments performed in autumn, there was a growth inhibiting influence

of gibberellic acid 30x. In contrast, no clear effect was found in experiments performed in winter/spring.

Further experiments should thus be performed in the autumn season.

As a rule, data were found to be homogeneous within the control groups of the single experiments (p >

0.05) as well as within the verum groups (p > 0.05). In other words, there are significant differences

between the average stalk lengths between the groups (verum or control, see above), but no significant

differences within the groups. This holds true both for the experiments performed in autumn and in

winter/spring.

Figure 6 (overleaf) shows mean stalk length of W30x and G30x seedlings by dish pair (e.g. 25 + 25

grains), with dish pairs ordered according to their joint mean stalk length. It illustrates that the difference

between G30x and W30x seedlings within dish pairs in the autumn experiments did not depend on

absolute stalk length (ranging from ca. 65 cm on the far left to ca. 35 cm on the far right). The G30x curve

is mostly lower than the W30x curve.


77

Fig. 6: Mean stalk length of G30x and W30x seedlings by dish pair in the autumn experiments (A1 through

A9), with dish pairs ordered according to their joint mean stalk length. Legend: red line =, curve connecting

G30x values; blue line = curve connecting W30x values; abscissa: mm; ordinate: dish pairs ordered

according to their joint mean stalk length. For further explanations see text.

In the winter/spring experiments (fig. 7), G30x seedlings showed a trend of growing higher than W30x

seedlings towards the high end of the growth range; whereas towards the low end of the growth range

there appears to be no clear-cut difference.

Fig. 7: Stalk length of G30x and W30x seedlings by dish pair in the winter/spring experiments (WS 1

through WS6). For explanations see fig. 6.


78

Discussion

First results from experiments performed in autumn 2007 had suggested an inhibition of stalk growth by

gibberellic acid 30x [4]. Further experiments then led to the idea that gibberellic acid 30x causes inhibition

of growth in autumn season only, whereas in winter it causes stimulation of growth [9]. To investigate the

hypothesis of seasonal dependency, further experiments were now performed and all data were submitted

to a comprehensive analysis.

All of the 9 autumn experiments 2007 – 2009 showed less stalk growth in the G30x-group (statistically

significant with p < 0.01 in 4, with p < 0.05 in 3 cases, trend in 2 cases). Mean stalk lengths (mm) were

46.97 + 20.50 for the G30x-group and 50.66 + 19.77 for control (mean + S.D.) at grain level (N = 4,440 per

group) and + 3.87 and + 3.38 (+ S.D.) respectively at dish level (217 cohorts of 20 or 25 grains per

treatment group). In other words, in autumn experiments, verum stalk length (92.72%) was 7.28% smaller

than control stalk length (100%). The effect size, calculated on the basis of dishes, was high (d = 1.02).

In contrast, no clear effect was found in experiments performed in winter/spring (less stalk growth in the

verum group in one case, no difference in one case, and more growth in 3 cases). Overall verum stalk

length (103.64%) was slightly greater than control stalk length (100%). The result of the winter/spring

experiments could be interpreted as a slight enhancement of growth, i.e. effects of G30x would then be

contradictory in autumn and in winter.

Our working hypothesis, derived from [4,9], was that the time of season (autumn versus winter/spring) is a

crucial factor in predicting the effect of homeopathically prepared gibberellic acid (G30x). This hypothesis,

reflected in the arrangement of Table 1, appears to have been confirmed by the present results. Other

parameters such as the researcher and the person preparing the dilutions involved, the year the

experiment was carried out, the presence or absence of acetone in the mother substance 1x did not seem

to play a role with regard to the outcome. However, the following factors may also play a key role: The age

of the grains (a few weeks in the autumn experiments, as opposed to 0.5 to 1.5 years in the winter/spring

experiments, with differences possibly attributable to growth inhibition by G30x in fresh seeds), as well as

the laboratory (Weiz in southern Austria versus Sankt Johann in northern Austria and Geilenkirchen in

Germany). These factors, as well as a possible influence of slight temperature differences between the

experiments, require further investigation.

Other multi-centred botanical studies on dilutions above Avogadro‟s limit can be found in literature, namely

on algae and copper sulphate (growth stimulation of poisoned algae in the initial study only, but not in the

repetition), wheat and silver nitrate (increase of stalk growth in 4 out of 5 studies), arsenic poisoned wheat

and arsenicum album (growth stimulation in 2 studies, decrease of growth in 2 studies) [17]. With regard to

these studies, we can at present say that our model with wheat and gibberellic acid seems to be a

promising candidate for a sequence of research projects.

The model may be useful for further research as there exists a theoretical justification due to previous

studies with wheat [1-4], as well as with potentized plant hormones [4,13-15], its methods are well

standardized. A weakness is that homeopathic studies on plants sometimes yield contradictory results,

e.g. stimulation of growth in one and inhibition of growth in another laboratory, both findings being

homogeneous and statistically significant within themselves [5-8]. One of the tasks of fundamental

homeopathy research must be to better define the conditions (methodological, seasonal, geographic)

which produce such consistent, yet contradictory results.

We may here refer to our project (1989 – 2009) on amphibian metamorphosis under the influence of

dilutions of thyroxin [10-12]. When in experiments special highland amphibian were used, effects of

extremely diluted agitated probes added to the basin water (30x, decrease of metamorphosis speed) were

independently found in 9 out of 10 studies performed by different researchers at sites including various

university laboratories [13]. In contrast, animals from lowland biotopes obviously did not react to thyroxin

30x [12]. The project helped to highlight pitfalls and challenges in high dilution research [18].


79

We interpret the 2008-2009 data as being in line with our 2007 findings [4], i.e. as confirmation that

gibberellic acid 30x does influence stalk growth. This would further confirm the hypothesis that information

can be stored in the test liquid [4,17,19], even at a dilution of the original substance beyond Avogadro‟s

value; and that the wheat bio-assay [4] is sensitive to such information. We also established that outcomes

to this effect are best obtained in the autumn season, i.e. that experiments should be performed in autumn

season.

In order to facilitate manageability of the experimental setup, further experiments on wheat and gibberellic

acid were performed on germination within 20, 24 and 28 hours [20].

References

1

Kolisko L., Physiologischer und physikalischer Nachweis der Wirksamkeit kleinster Entitäten bei sieben

Metallen. Goetheanum Verlag, Dornach 1926.

2

Pongratz W., Endler P.C., Reappraisal of a classical botanical experiment in ultra high dilution research.

In: Endler P.C., Schulte J. (eds.). Ultra High Dilution: Physiology and Physics. Kluwer Academic

Publishers, Dordrecht 1994: 121-128.

3

Pongratz W., Nograsek A., Endler P.C., Highly diluted agitated silver nitrate and wheat seedling

development. In: Schulte J., Endler P.C. (eds): Fundamental Research in Ultra High Dilution and

Homoeopathy. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dortrecht 1998: 143-152.

4

Pfleger A., Hofäcker J., Scherer-Pongratz W., Lothaller H., Reich C., Endler P.C. The effect of extremely

diluted agitated gibberellic acid (10e-30) on wheat seedling development – a two researcher study.

Accepted by Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2011.

5

Betti L., Brizzi M., Nani D., Peruzzi M., Effect of high dilutions of Arsenicum album on wheat seedlings from

seed poisoned with the same substance, Br Hom J 1997; 86: 86-89.

6

Brizzi M., Nani D., Peruzzi M., Betti L., Statistical analysis of the effect of high dilutions of arsenic in a large

dataset from a wheat germination model. Br Hom J 2000; 89, 63-67.

7

Binder M., Baumgartner S., Thurneysen A., The Effects of a 45x Potency of Arsenicum album on Wheat

Seedling Growth - a Reproduction Trial, Res Compl Med / Forsch Komplementärmed 2005; 12: 284-291.

8

Nani D., Brizzi M., Lazzarato L., Betti L. The role of variability in evaluating ultra high dilution effects:

considerations based on plant model experiments. Res Compl Med / Forsch Komplementärmed 2007;

14(5): 301-305.

9

Endler, P.C., Pfleger, A., Thieves, K., Reischl, T., Reich, C. Proposal for a comparison on relative

differences in fundamental botanical homeopathy research (Abstract). Eu J Integrative Medicine 2009; 1:

246.


80

10

Endler P.C., Pongratz W., Kastberger G., Wiegant F.A.C., Schulte J. The effect of highly diluted agitated

thyroxine on the climbing activity of frogs. J Vet Hum Tox 1994; 36: 56-59.

11

Zausner C, Lassnig H, Endler PC, Scherer W, Haidvogl M, Frass M, Kastberger G, Lüdtke R., Die Wirkung

von "homöopathisch" zubereitetem Thyroxin auf die Metamorphose von Hochlandamphibien - Ergebnisse

einer multizentrischen Kontrollstudie. Perfusion 2002; 17: 268-276.

12

Endler P.C., Scherer-Pongratz W., Lingg G., Lothaller H. Amphibian metamorphosis and a reverse effectof

homeopathically prepared thyroxin – studies 1990-2010. Invited paper submitted to J Biosciences, 2011.

13

Baumgartner S., Thurneysen A., Heusser P., Growth stimulation of dwarf peas (Pisum sativum L.) through

homeopathic potencies of plant growth substances. Res Compl Med / Forsch Komplementärmed 2004;

11: 281-92.

14

Baumgartner S., Shah D., Schaller J., Kämpfer U., Thurneysen A., Heusser P., Reproducibility of dwarf

pea shoot growth stimulation by homeopathic potencies of gibberellic acid, Complem Ther Med 2008,

16(4): 183-191.

15

Hamman B., Koning G., Him Lok K, Homeopathically prepared gibberellic acid and barley seed

germination. Homeopathy 2003; 92: 140-144.

16

Stock-Schröer B., Albrecht H., Betti L., Endler P.C., Linde K., Lüdtke R., Musial F., van Wijk R., Witt C.,

Baumgartner S., Reporting experiments in homeopathic basic research (REHBaR) – A detailed guideline

for authors. Homeopathy 2009; 98: 287-298.

17

Endler P.C., Thieves K., Reich R, Matthiessen P.F., Bonamin L., Scherr C., Baumgartner S. Repetitions of

fundamental research models for homeopathically prepared dilutions beyond 10e-23: a bibliometric study.

Homeopathy 2010; 99: 25-36.

18

Endler P.C. Homeopathy Research – An Expedition Report. An Old Healing System Gains Plausibility.

[email protected], Graz 2003: 99-101 / Expedition Homöopathieforschung. Ein altes Heilsystem wird

plausibel. Maudrich Verlag, Vienna 2006: 99-101.

19

Enserink M. Newsmaker Interview: Luc Montagnier. Science 2010; 330: 1732.

20

Hartung H., Schiestl S., Matzer W., Endler P.C.. Wheat germination (20 hrs) and extremely diluted

gibberellic acid (10e-30). Explorative experiments on a fundamental homoeopathy research model

(Abstract). Eu J Integrated Medicine 2010; 2: 224-245.



81

Conclusion

[Endler, Thieves et al. 2009]: 10 years after the last comparable systematic literature review the

authors conclude that the question of independent reproduction in homeopathic fundamental

research has considerably improved. [Vickers 1999] was not able to identify a single

experimental model that had successfully been reproduced by an independent research team. In

the course of our study seven models were identified as yielding comparable or different but

significant results.

The authors strongly recommend further repetitions of published studies in order to learn more

about the model systems used, identify crucial parameters influencing experimental outcomes,

and test the reproducibility of results.

[Reich, Bonamin, Endler 2011]: see [Endler, Thieves et al. 2009]. The authors are aware that the

successful reproduction of results in a model does not guarantee the same for future replications.

The idea of a “last and final proof”, the “once and for all study”, is alien both to the theory of

science [Popper 1963] [Forschung im Dienste der Gesundheit, 1992] as well as to the authors‟

personal research experience [Endler 1998]. The same holds true for high ranking scores – there

may always be surprises with regard to the “market value” of a model. On the other hand,

models that do not meet the “ideal” criteria, such as unrepeated and badly published models,

with non-responsive original authors, may be found to be rewarding candidates.

[Pfleger, Hofäcker et al. 2011]: It was found that gibberellic acid D30 influenced – and in this

case reduced – stalk growth of wheat. This would mean that information was stored in the test

liquid, although this was a dilution beyond Avogadro‟s value; and that the experimental model

is sensitive to such information and therefore a promising candidate for research on the

possibility of information storage in homeopathically prepared high dilutions.

[Reich, Matzer et al. 2011]: Previous trials had led to the idea that ultramolecular agitated

gibberellic acid may cause inhibition of stalk growth in the autumn season only, whereas in

winter it may cause stimulation of growth [Endler, Pfleger et al. 2009]. In this study, all of the 9

autumn experiments showed less stalk growth in the gibberellic acid D30 group, whereas no

clear effect was found in experiments performed in winter/spring (less stalk growth in the

verum group in one case, no difference in one case, and more growth in 3 cases). This suggests

that experiments on the wheat/gibberellic acid bio-assay should best be performed in the autumn

season.


82

Epilogue

A large variety of well-founded studies have been performed to find mechanisms of information

transfer and storage in liquids that may permit an understanding of the physics of homeopathy

and ultramolecular dilutions [Schulte 1998]. A short but pithy statement on this topic was

recently given by Nobel Laureate Luc Montagnier: “ High dilutions of something are not

nothing. They are water structures which mimic the original molecule” [Enserlink 2010].

A comprehensive review on up-to-date research findings on the physics and biophysics of

homeopathy is not within the purview of this thesis.

Previous studies using zoological [Endler et al. 1994] [Hermann 2005] as well as botanical

[Pongratz et al. 1994] bio-assays have examined non-molecular energy-based interactions

between ultramolecular homeopathically prepared dilutions, sealed in glass vessels, and

organisms. A recent pilot study conducted at our institute adressed the possibility of information

transfer from a potency through glass walls. The study was thus directed at the issue of storage

insensivity of homeopathic remedies [Reich, Lothaller, Endler 2010]. The findings suggest that

banging glass bottles of liquid homeopathic remedies together can lead to information transfer

and that appropriate precautions may be desirable during transport and storage. Further studies

are needed to substantiate our laboratory results on aqueous potencies and to determine whether

these may also be relevant for alcoholic homeopathic dilutions or globuli.


83

REFERENCES

to Summary, Introduction, Conclusion and Epilogue

Endler P.C. Homeopathy Research - An Expedition Report. Edition Interuniversity College,

Graz 2003 / Expedition Homöopathieforschung - Ein altes Heilsystem wird plausibel. Maudrich

Verlag, Vienna 1998.

Endler P.C., Pongratz W., van Wijk R., Wiegant F.A.C., Waltl K., Gehrer M., Hilgers H. A

zoological example on ultra high dilution research. Energetic coupling between the dilution and

the organism in a model with amphibian n: Ultra High Dilution: Physiology and Physics -

Endler, P.C., Schulte, J. (Hrsg.) Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht 1994

Endler P.C. Curative Effects of Homeopathically Prepared Thyroxin on Thyroxin-

Hyperstimulated Amphibians? Doctoral Thesis, Universidas Azteca 2010, editioninter-uni.net,

Graz 2010

Endler P.C., Thieves K., Reich C., Matthiessen P., Bonamin L. Repetition of fundamental

research models for homeopathically prepared dilutions beyond 10-23: a bibliometric study.

Homeopathy 2009;99: 25-36. Part I of this volume.

Endler P.C., Pfleger A., Thieves K., Reischl T., Reich C. Proposal for a comparison on relative

differences in fundamental botanical homeopathy research (Abstract). Eu J Integrative Medicine

2009; 1: 246.

Enserlink, M. Newsmaker Interview: Luc Montagnier. French Nobelist Escapes „Intellectual

Terror‟ to Pursue Radical ideas in China. Science, 2010; 330: 1732.

Forschung im Dienste der Gesundheit (Projektträgerschaft). Unkonventionelle Medizinische

Richtungen. Bestandsaufnahme zur Forschungssituation. Wirtschaftsverlag, Verlag für neue

Wissenschaft, Bonn 1992.

Hermann B. Zur Wirkung von ‚homöopathisch' zubereitetem Thyroxin (10e-30) in Glasphiolen

auf die Metamorphose vorstimulierter Rana [email protected], Graz

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Hori S. Some observations on "Bakanae" disease of the rice plant. Mem. Agric. Res. Sta. Tokyo

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http\\: www.plant-hormones.info/gibberellins.htm

Pfleger A. Saatgut-Entwicklung und Information von schrittweise verdünnter und verschüttelter

Gibberellinsäure (10e-30). edition inter-uni.net, Graz 2008

Pfleger A., Hofäcker J., Scherer-Pongratz W., Lothaller H., Reich C., Endler P.C. The effect of

extremely diluted agitated gibberellic acid (10e-30) on wheat stalk growth – a two researcher

pilote study. Peer reviewed by Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2011. Part III of this

volume.

Phinney B.O. Growth response of single-gene dwarf mutants in maize to gibberellic acid.

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1956 April; 42(4): 185–189.

Pongratz W., Endler P.C. Reappraisal of a classical botanical experiment on ultra high dilution

research. Energetic coupling in a wheat model. In: Endler, P.C., Schulte, J. (eds.) Ultra High

Dilution: Physiology and Physics. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht 1994.

Popper K. Conjectures and Refutations, London, Routledge and Keagan Paul 1963, 33-39.

Reich C., Lothaller H., Endler P.C. Information transfer from an ultra high dilution through

glass walls – A study on wheat seedlings, with regard to storage safety of homeopathic

remedies. Abstract, European Journal of Integrated Medicine 2010; 2(4): 246

Reich C., Bonamin L.V., Endler P.C. Further aspects on replications of fundamental research

on homeopathic dilutions beyond 10-23

. Submitted to The Scientific World Journal, 2011.

Part II of this volume.

Reich C., Matzer W., Reischl T., Hartmann A.M., Thieves K., Pfleger A., Hofäcker J., Lothaller

H., Scherer-Pongratz W., Endler P.C. The effect of extremely diluted agitated gibberellic acid

(10e-30) on wheat seedling development – seasonal variation in a multi researcher study.

Submitted to Frontiers of Bioscience, 2011. Part IV of this volume.


85

Schulte J. Bio-Information between quantum and continuum physics. The mesoscopic picture.

In: Schulte J., Endler P.C. Fundamental Research in Ultra High Dilution and Homeopathy.


Vickers A.J. Independent replication of pre-clinical research in homoeopathy: a systematic

review. Res Compl Med / Forsch Komplementärmed 1999; 6: 311-320.

For references to the cumulated papers of the Main Body, please go to:

pp 26 – 29 (Part I)

pp 46 – 53 (Part II)

pp 62 – 64 (Part III)

pp 79 / 80 (Part IV)

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