Particle characterisation of traditional homeopathically manufactured medicine cuprum metallicum and controls

Homeopathy is highly controversial. The main reason for this is its use of very highly dilute medicines (high homeopathic potencies, HHP), diluted beyond the Avogadro/Loschmidt limit. Research using several different methods has demonstrated the presence of particles, including nanoparticles of source material, in HHPs. This study aims to verify the results of a previous publication that detected the presence of particles in all dilutions. We used the Nano Tracking Analyzer (NTA) to examine dilutions of a commonly used homeopathic medicine, an insoluble metal, Cuprum metallicum, for the presence of particles. The homeopathic medicines tested were specially prepared according to the European pharmacopoeia standards. We compared the homeopathic dilutions/dynamizations with simple dilutions and controls including a soluble medicine. We observed the presence of solid material in all preparations including HHPs (except for pure water). The measurements showed significant differences in particle sizes distribution between homeopathic manufacturing lines and controls. Homeopathic medicines do contain material with a specific size distribution even in HHPs diluted beyond the Avogadro/Loschmidt limit. This specificity can be attributed to the manufacturing and potentization process. This material demonstrates that the step-by-step process (dynamized or not) does not match the theoretical expectations in a dilution process. The starting material and dilution/dynamization method influences the nature and concentration of these NPs.

Increase in growth of eucalyptus seedlings with application of homeopathic preparations

The use of less impacting techniques in agricultural systems is the global trend, so the use of homeopathic preparations on these systems has been studied as ecologically sound technology. This study had the object to study the interaction between the homeopathic preparations and the development of Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake seedlings and was conducted from May 2007 to July 2007, in the greenhouse of the Department of Plant Science at the Federal University of Viçosa, MG, Brazil. Applications were made in one-day intervals and preparations utilized were Phosphorus, Calcarea carbonica, Kali muriaticum, Magnesia carbonica, all in potencies 3CH and 12CH and the controls were water and alcohol 3CH. Parameters of seedlings quality were measured in different times during the experiment, up to the end. Kali muriaticum 12CH promoted increased root length of approximately 55% compared to the water control. Phosphorus 3CH differed from other treatments considering the total green mass. The homeopathic preparations Phosphorus 3CH and Kali muriaticum 12CH increased the root growth, in relation to controls. The responses obtained with the application of Phosphorus 3CH indicate the viability of its agronomic use to increase of the root capacity of absorbing elements, as much as necessary for the plant growth. (AU)