The use of plant-based bioassays in homeopathic basic research

Tim Jäger; Claudia Scherr; Devika Shah; Vera Majewsky; Ursula Wolf; Lucietta Betti; Stephan Baumgartner

doi:10.1016/j.homp.2015.06.009

Homeopathy, Inhaltsverzeichnis

Homeopathy 2015; 104(04): 277-282
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2015.06.009

Original Paper

The use of plant-based bioassays in homeopathic basic research

Autor*innen

Tim Jäger

¹Institute of Integrative Medicine, University of Witten-Herdecke, Germany

²Center for Complementary Medicine, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany

³Institute of Complementary Medicine IKOM, University of Bern, Switzerland
Claudia Scherr

⁴Society for Cancer Research, Hiscia Institute, Arlesheim, Switzerland
Devika Shah

⁴Society for Cancer Research, Hiscia Institute, Arlesheim, Switzerland
Vera Majewsky

⁵Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
Ursula Wolf

³Institute of Complementary Medicine IKOM, University of Bern, Switzerland
Lucietta Betti

⁶Department of Agro-Environmental Science and Technology, University of Bologna, Italy
Stephan Baumgartner

¹Institute of Integrative Medicine, University of Witten-Herdecke, Germany

²Center for Complementary Medicine, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany

⁴Society for Cancer Research, Hiscia Institute, Arlesheim, Switzerland

Abstract

Objectives: The objective was to evaluate homeopathic basic research studies that use plant-based bioassays. With this in view, a compilation was made of the findings of three systematic literature reviews covering plant-based bioassays in the three fields of healthy, abiotically, or biotically stressed plants. This compilation focused on investigations using advanced experimental methods and detailed descriptions, also with the aim of supporting the design of future experiments.

Methods: Publications included had to report on studies into the effects of homeopathic preparations on whole plants, seeds, plant parts and cells. Outcomes had to be measured by established procedures and statistically evaluated. A Manuscript Information Score (MIS) was applied using predefined criteria to identify publications with sufficient information for adequate interpretation (MIS ≥ 5). Additional evaluation focused on the use of adequate controls to investigate specific effects of homeopathic preparations, and on the use of systematic negative control (SNC) experiments to ensure the stability of the bioassay. Only a fraction of the studies reported here were performed with ‘ultra high’ dilutions, whereas other studies were performed with moderate or high dilutions.

Results: A total of 157 publications were identified, describing a total of 167 experimental studies. 84 studies included statistics and 48 had a MIS ≥ 5, thus allowing adequate interpretation. 29 studies had adequate controls to identify specific effects of homeopathic preparations, and reported significant effects of decimal and centesimal homeopathic potencies, including dilution levels beyond Avogadro’s number. 10 studies reported use of SNC experiments, yielding evidence for the stability of the experimental set-up.

Conclusion: Plant models appear to be a useful approach for investigating basic research questions relating to homeopathic preparations, but more independent replication trials are needed in order to verify the results found in single experiments. Adequate controls and SNC experiments should be implemented on a routine basis to exclude false-positive results.

Keywords

Review - Basic research - Homeopathy - Potentisation - Agriculture - Phytopathological models - Field trials - Impaired plants - Noxa

Volltext

Referenzen

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