Short-term effects of repeated olfactory administration of homeopathic Sulphur or Pulsatilla on electroencephalographic alpha power in healthy young adults

Abstract

Introduction Homeopathic pathogenetic trials usually rely on symptom self report measures. Adding objective biomarkers could enhance detection of subtle initial remedy effects. The present feasibility study examined electroencephalographic (EEG) effects of repeated olfactory administration of two polycrest remedies. Methods College student volunteers (ages 18–30, both sexes) from an introductory psychology course were screened for good health and relatively elevated Sulphur OR Pulsatilla symptom scores on the Homeopathic Constitutional Type Questionnaire. Subjects underwent a series of 3 once-weekly double-blind sessions during which they repeatedly sniffed the remedy matched to their CTQ type and solvent controls. Each remedy was given in a 6c, 12c, and 30c potency, one potency per week, in randomly assigned order. Solvent controls included both plain distilled water and a water-ethanol (95%) solution. All sniff test solutions were further diluted just prior to laboratory sessions (0.5 ml test solution in 150 ml distilled water). Within a session, remedies and control solvents were administered via 2-second sniffs (8 sniffs of each of 4 different succussion levels for the potency in randomized order). Primary outcome variable was relative EEG power (alpha 1 8–10 hertz; alpha 2 10–12 hertz) averaged over 19 electrode sites, including all succussions for a given potency. Results Mixed-effect models revealed significant main effects for remedy type (Sulphur>Pulsatilla) in both alpha bands, controlling for gender, baseline resting EEG alpha, and solvent control responses. Additional analyses showed significant non-linear interactions between dilution and time (weekly session) in alpha 2 for both remedies and alpha 1 for Sulphur. Conclusion EEG alpha offers an objective biomarker of remedy effects for future studies and potential method for distinguishing time-dependent effects of specific remedies and remedy potencies from one another.

Multiweek Resting EEG Cordance Change Patterns from Repeated Olfactory Activation with Two Constitutionally Salient Homeopathic Remedies in Healthy Young Adults

“…An additional aspect of the larger study involved evaluation of within-session transient EEG a-band effects from different numbers of succussions (stirred, 20, 40, or 100 succussions) performed on the verum and placebo sniff dilutions (detailed methods on succussion levels and sniff test results have been reported elsewhere). 48 The contents were one of two well-documented, widely used homeopathic remedies, Sulphur (mineral) or Pulsatilla (plant), and associated control solvents (water or a water-ethanol mixture). The order of the dilutions used in a session was randomized, using computer-generated sequences over the 3 weeks for each subject.…”

“…Results of the placebo-controlled olfactory activation component of the larger study that examined specific transient relative EEG a-effects from 2-second sniffs of remedy and placebos at different succussion levels were reported elsewhere in detail. 48,* The data analysis and current article focus only on the pre-and postresting EEG segments as functions of time (week 1, 2, 3) and dilution (6c, 12c, 30c).…”

“…As noted above, relative EEG a-frequency band findings from the sniffs per se are reported in other articles. 48, *…”

Nonlinear dynamical systems effects of homeopathic remedies on multiscale entropy and correlation dimension of slow wave sleep EEG in young adults with histories of coffee-induced insomnia

“…41,42 Neurophysiological assessments enable utilization of more objective and sensitive tools than crude behavioral observations or self-report scales for assessing the real-time dynamics of an organism at integrative levels of functioning such as the central nervous system. 19,43 In animal research, for example, Ruiz-Vega et al 44 showed that homeopathically prepared medicines such as Coffea cruda at 30c potencies can produce increases in the electroencephalographic delta band power of slow wave sleep (stages 3 and 4) versus placebo.…”

“…8,56 The secondary hypothesis, based on homeopathic theory 20,42,57 and accumulating basic science data on nanoparticles and succussion-related unique alterations in the dynamic structure of the ethanol-water solvent networks of specific remedies, 58–69 was that Coffea cruda and Nux vomica would differ from one another in the pattern of their nonlinear EEG effects. Skeptics would argue the null hypothesis, given the 30c doses (potencies) used of both medicines would have been diluted past Avogadro's number and would, from a diluted bulk form source molecule perspective, contain no active ingredients and hence, effects no different from placebo.…”