Effect of highly diluted and agitated thyroxine on the climbing activity of frogs

Endler, P. C.; Pongratz, W.; Kastberger, Gerald; Wiegant, F. A. C.; Schulte, Jürgen

doi:10.1016/s0007-0785(05)80799-9

Cited by 18 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Effects of the same magnitude have been observed with other plant-based models, such as cowpea infected by root-knot nematodes [20] or tobacco infected with tobacco mosaic virus [7]. The greatest effects (40-60%) were obtained with ultra-high dilutions of hormones or other chemical mediators [21][22][23][24]. Recently, in a study based on a luminescent bacterium as test organism [3], even very small effects (1.5%) proved statistically significant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

A Biostatistical Insight into the As2O3 High Dilution Effects on the Rate and Variability of Wheat Seedling Growth

Brizzi

Lazzarato²,

Nani³

et al. 2005

Complement Med Res

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Background: Most criticism of homeopathy concerns the lack of scientific bases and theoretical models. Fundamental research could make important contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms of action of homeopathic treatments. Plant-based bioassays are suitable for basic research - lacking the placebo effect and ensuring large data samples for structured statistical analyses. Objective: The aim of this study was to reproduce a previous experiment on the effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) high dilutions on wheat seedling growth in order to verify whether the same significant results could be obtained working in a different place and with a different experimental team. A further goal was to investigate high dilution effects on variability. Material and Methods: A structured experiment was performed blind over 9 weeks, using wheat seeds previously stressed with a sublethal dose of As2O3. The seeds were then treated with either potentized As2O3 (5x, 15x, 25x, 35x, 45x), potentized water (equivalent potencies) or diluted As2O3 (10-5, 10-15, 10-25, 10-35, 10-45). The working variable was the stem length, measured after 4, 5, 6 and 7 days. Results: Some potencies (As2O3 45x and H2O 45x) induced a relevant increase in seedling growth and/or a variability decrease. Diluted As2O3 did not induce any significant results. Conclusions: Confirmation of a significant stimulating effect on seedling growth and a significant decrease of variability was obtained with ultra-high dilutions at the 45x potency. The model of wheat germination and growth has been confirmed to be a good tool for basic research in homeopathy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

A Biostatistical Insight into the As2O3 High Dilution Effects on the Rate and Variability of Wheat Seedling Growth

Brizzi

Lazzarato²,

Nani³

et al. 2005

Complement Med Res

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“…In a first set of studies, we used frog larvae from a highland population during metamorphosis, when the animals' thyroxine level is comparatively high [5]. In experiments performed in Graz and Vienna, Austria, and Utrecht, Netherlands, it was found that a homeopathically prepared dilution of thyroxine (10 -30 parts by weight) diminished the speed of metamorphosis [6,7] and the intensity of climbing activity [8] in Rana temporaria frogs from 1,600 m above sea level. The highland environment presumably favors greater sensitivity towards thyroxine or comparatively high thyroxine levels in amphibia [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pretreatment with Thyroxine (10–<sup>8</sup> Parts by Weight) Enhances a ‘Curative’ Effect of Homeopathically Prepared Thyroxine (10–<sup>13</sup>) on Lowland Frogs

Endler¹,

Lüdtke

Heckmann³

et al. 2003

Complement Med Res

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We studied the influence of a moderate homeopathically prepared thyroxine dilution (final concentration in the basin water 10–¹³ parts by weight) on the metamorphosis of lowland Rana temporaria which had been hyperstimulated with thyroxine. Two groups of animals were pretreated by immersing them in a molecular thyroxine dilution (10–⁸ parts by weight). This pretreatment speeds up development, as is well known. In accordance with the homeopathic/isopathic idea of detoxication or cure, the same hormone was then diluted and agitated in successive steps for further treatment. This homeopathically prepared dilution was administered at 24-hour intervals to one of the groups. An analogously prepared blank solution was used for the control group. Our hypothesis, which was derived from earlier studies, was that animals treated with the test solution would metamorphose more slowly than the control animals, i.e. that the homeopathically prepared thyroxine would have a ‘curative’ effect. In this new series of experiments this hypothesis was examined by 3 independent researchers. In the experiments carried out by 2 of the 3 researchers the number of animals that reached the fourlegged stage at defined points in time was smaller in the group treated with homeopathically prepared thyroxine. In the third laboratory no difference was found between the groups. However, the overall inhibiting effect was statistically significant and more pronounced than in earlier, less promising studies and in parallel experiments in which nonprestimulated animals had been used. Other studies carried out by the 3 researchers involved animals from highland biotopes, where the natural environment probably induces a greater sensitivity towards thyroxine or higher thyroxine levels. These animals reacted to the homeopathically prepared thyroxine with a slowing down of metamorphosis, even when they had not been prestimulated with a molecular dose of the hormone. This effect was observed in all 3 laboratories and is consistent with the results of previous studies.

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“…[45][46][47][48] In that model, tadpole metamorphosis is accelerated by adding thyroxin in a high potency (usually 30ϫ). Thyroxin stimulates growth and quickens the metamorphosis from the two-legged stage into the four-legged stage.…”

Section: Walach Et Al 814mentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on Homeopathy: State of the Art

Walach

Jonas²,

Ives³

et al. 2005

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

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In this paper, we review research on homeopathy from four perspectives, focusing on reviews and some landmark studies. These perspectives are laboratory studies, clinical trials, observational studies, and theoretical work. In laboratory models, numerous effects and anomalies have been reported. However, no single model has been sufficiently widely replicated. Instead, researchers have focused on ever-new models and experiments, leaving the picture of scattered anomalies without coherence. Basic research, trying to elucidate a purported difference between homeopathic remedies and control solutions has also produced some encouraging results, but again, series of independent replications are missing. While there are nearly 200 reports on clinical trials, few series have been conducted for single conditions. Some of these series document clinically useful effects and differences against placebo and some series do not. Observational research into uncontrolled homeopathic practice documents consistently strong therapeutic effects and sustained satisfaction in patients. We suggest that this scattered picture has to do with the fourth line of research: lack of a good theory. Some of the extant theoretical models are reviewed, including placebo, water structure, silica contamination, energy models, and entanglement models. It emerges that local models, suggesting some change in structure in the solvent, are far from convincing. The nonlocal models proposed would predict that it is impossible to nail down homeopathic effects with direct experimental testing and this places homeopathy in a scientific dilemma. We close with some suggestions for potentially fruitful research.

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Effect of highly diluted and agitated thyroxine on the climbing activity of frogs

Cited by 18 publications

References 5 publications

A Biostatistical Insight into the As2O3 High Dilution Effects on the Rate and Variability of Wheat Seedling Growth

A Biostatistical Insight into the As2O3 High Dilution Effects on the Rate and Variability of Wheat Seedling Growth

Pretreatment with Thyroxine (10–<sup>8</sup> Parts by Weight) Enhances a ‘Curative’ Effect of Homeopathically Prepared Thyroxine (10–<sup>13</sup>) on Lowland Frogs

Research on Homeopathy: State of the Art

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