Investigation of force-like effects of potentized preparations

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-28
Author(s):  
Jeremias Dott ◽  
Stephan Baumgartner ◽  
Claudia Scherr ◽  
Maria Olga Kokornaczyk
Keyword(s):  
Outer Space ◽  
Viscum Album ◽  
Droplet Evaporation ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Evaporation Method ◽  
Mistletoe Extract ◽  
Controlled Conditions ◽  
Root Shoot Ratio ◽  
Glass Slides ◽  
Wheat Seeds

Abstract The scope of this project is the investigation of the possible occurrence of force-like effects of potentized preparations. Based on earlier work [1, 2] we have chosen two preclinical models: a droplet evaporation method applied on wheat seeds and a bioassay with cress stressed with colchicine. In both methods we investigate if potentized and not potentized substances exhibit force-like effects. We study two types of potentization procedures. First we study classical homeopathic potentization (Natrium muriaticum 30cH) and compare it with unpotentized NaCl 0.9%. Second, we study anthroposophic potentization (Iscador, mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extracts treated with a special mechanized pharmaceutical process) and compare it with unpotentized mistletoe extract (not mechanically treated). Droplet evaporation method is performed as described in detail elsewhere [1]. In short: wheat seeds were placed in the inner space of bilayer recipients, whereas, in the outer space (i) the unpotentized substance, (ii) the potentized substance, or (iii) a water control is placed. After one week wheat seeds are removed from the recipients and placed in water for 1h. Droplets of the obtained leakage were evaporated on glass-slides in controlled conditions. The droplet residues are photographed in magnification 100x and analyzed for fractal dimension. Cress growth test is performed as described in detail elsewhere [2]. For the study of force-like effects, ampoules of the above mentioned substances and ampoules of water for injection are placed for 2 days in recipients filled with purified water. Subsequently 20 µg/ml colchicine were added. The so prepared water is used to grow selected cress seeds in bags for 4 days. The plants grow in darkness under controlled conditions and show a morphological malformation due to the colchicine. The length of the root and shoot at each plant is measured and the root/shoot ratio is calculated, to determine if there is any difference between the treatments. 1. Kokornaczyk, M.O., S. Baumgartner, and L. Betti, Preliminary study on force-like effects between As45x, water, and wheat seeds performed by means of the droplet evaporation method. International Journal of High Dilution Research, 2015. 14(2): p. 17-19. 2. Baumgartner S, Flückiger H, Kunz M, Scherr C, Urech K. Evaluation of Preclinical Assays to Investigate an Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Process Applied to Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) Extracts. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014: Article ID 620974.

scholarly journals Preliminary study on force-like effects between As45x, water, and wheat seeds performed by means of the droplet evaporation method

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-19
Author(s):  
Maria Olga Kokornaczyk ◽  
Stephan Baumgartner ◽  
Lucietta Betti
Keyword(s):  
Aluminum Foil ◽  
Droplet Evaporation ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Wheat Seed ◽  
Ultrapure Water ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Evaporation Method ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
To Come ◽  
Wheat Seeds

Background: The droplet evaporation method (DEM) is based on pattern formation in evaporating droplets. It has been shown that the local connected fractal dimension (LCFD; a complexity measure) of crystalline structures grown in evaporating droplets of wheat seed leakages depended upon whether the seeds were treated with an ultra-high dilution (UHD) or water control.1, 2 In homeopathy it is usually assumed, that UHD’s need to come in direct (physical) contact with the organism to be treated to exhibit their action; however, recently, it has been demonstrated on a wheat seed germination model that UHD’s may influence organisms also at a distance, i.e. without any physical contact. 3 In this case the UHD's effectiveness decreases with increasing distance. Here we test whether DEM might serve also as a tool to study such force-like influences. In a series of three DEM experiments (E1-3) we studied (i) force-like effects occurring between As2O3 45x treatment (As45x) and undiluted, unsuccussed, ultrapure water (W), (ii) As45x and wheat seeds, as also (iii) whether force-like effects may be shielded by means of aluminum foil, commonly applied for such purposes in homeopathic research.

Droplet evaporation method applied to test the efficacy of Zincum metallicum 30c on stressed and non-stressed wheat seeds

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (47) ◽  
pp. 84-85
Author(s):  
Maria Olga Kokornaczyk ◽  
Stephan Baumgartner ◽  
Lucietta Betti
Keyword(s):  
Droplet Evaporation ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Evaporation Method ◽  
Inhibiting Effect ◽  
Tidal Forces ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
High Dilutions ◽  
Polycrystalline Structures ◽  
Wheat Seeds

Background: The droplet evaporation method (DEM) has been recently proposed as a possible tool to test the efficacy of ultra high dilutions (UHDs) [1]. Here we applied the same methodology consisting in the evaporation of droplets from leakages obtained by placing wheat seeds in UHDs to test whether DEM patterns vary in function of the tested treatment: Zincum metallicum 30c (ZM), lactose 30c as dynamized control (L), and unsuccussed, undiluted water as negative control (C). Since our previous study [1] showed that there is a significant increase in the UHD action in the stressed model, with respect to the non-stressed one, also in the present experiment we tested ZM, L and C on both stressed (s-seeds) and non-stressed wheat seeds (ns-seeds). Aims: The aim of the experiment was to test whether treatments ZM, L, and C applied on ns- and s-seeds influence the DEM pattern characteristics. Materials and methods: Whole, undamaged wheat seeds (Triticum aestivum cv. Inallettabile, harvesting year 2010) were used for the experiment, following the experimental protocol described in [1]. The distinction between s- and ns-seeds is based upon different storing conditions from the harvest until the analysis day: the ns-seeds were kept in controlled conditions at 5°C and in the dark, whereas the s-seeds were kept in lab at varying temperature, humidity and light conditions. As far as treatment preparation is concerned, ZM and L were obtained from triturations 3c (received from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) by vertical mechanical succussions and following dilutions; negative control (C) was ultra-pure water from the same water batch used for dilutions. The experiment was repeated on 6 days within one month; each seed lot (ns- and s-seeds) was analyzed on 3 different days (s-seeds on 10th, 11th and 24th February 2014 and ns-seeds on 12th, 26th February and 3th March 2014), with three treatment-replicates for ZM and L and two for C, three repetitions for each treatment-replicate and 5 droplets per repetition (360 patterns for each seed lot). The complexity degree of polycrystalline structures obtained from the evaporating droplets was measured by means of the ImageJ software [2] by calculating their local connected fractal dimensions (LCFD). The data on moon phase, moon position and moon distance from Earth at the beginning of each evaporation process were collected from the online tool virtuelles Telescope [3]. All data were processed by a three-way ANOVA at a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Correlations between the moon data and LCFD were evaluated by r Pearson coefficient. Results: The effect of the treatment on LCFD values of DEM patterns was significant only in the stressed model: ZM showed a crystallization inhibiting action vs. C on all 3 analysis days, whereas a significant difference between ZM and L could be observed only on first and third analysis day (Fig 1a). ANOVA analysis showed that the overall LCFD means for the s-seed lot differed significantly between each other: 1.33 (a) for C, 1.26 (b) for L, and 1.19 (c) for ZM. Moreover, the LCFD values of both seed lots showed a strong day factor influence. A possible explanation of this finding might be the influence of the moon (position, phase, and distance from Earth) on the crystallization process: strong correlation between the LCFD of the patterns and moon data were found (r values were from -0.72 to -0.97). Figure 1: Graphical representation of the mean local connected fractal dimension values (LCFD) of droplet evaporation patterns obtained from stressed and non-stressed wheat seeds following treatments with Zincum metallicum 30c (ZM), lactose 30c (L), and unsuccussed/undiluted water (C). Discussion: The present study confirms a pre-sensitization effect towards UHD action in stressed models: a significant inhibiting effect of ZM 30c was found in all experimentation day. Furthermore, the strong correlations observed between the LCFD values and moon data indicate that the complexity of polycrystalline structures from evaporating droplets of wheat seed leakages might be affected by tidal forces. Since DEM needs to be standardized, these correlations can be considered only simultaneous and not causal, however their strength gives good reasons for further studies. Conclusions: The results of the present pilot-study seem to encourage further DEM experiments on s-seeds following UHD treatments. For further confirmation of the inhibiting effect of ZM on s-seeds, germination tests should be planned. Finally, the performance of DEM experimentations during days and hours with equal tidal influence on gravity might be helpful for the reduction of the day factor. Keywords:Ultra high dilutions, droplet evaporation method, patterns, Zincum metallicum

scholarly journals Evaluation of Preclinical Assays to Investigate an Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Process Applied to Mistletoe (Viscum albumL.) Extracts

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Baumgartner ◽  
Heidi Flückiger ◽  
Matthias Kunz ◽  
Claudia Scherr ◽  
Konrad Urech
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Rotating Disk ◽  
Viscum Album ◽  
Tumor Formation ◽  
Lepidium Sativum ◽  
Anthroposophic Medicine ◽  
Mistletoe Extract ◽  
Root Shoot Ratio ◽  
Mistletoe Extracts

Extracts from European mistletoe (Viscum albumL.) developed in anthroposophic medicine are based on specific pharmaceutical procedures to enhance remedy efficacy. One such anthroposophic pharmaceutical process was evaluated regarding effects on cancer cell toxicityin vitroand on colchicine tumor formation inLepidium sativum. Anthroposophically processedViscum albumextract (APVAE) was produced by mixing winter and summer mistletoe extracts in the edge of a high-speed rotating disk and was compared with manually mixedViscum albumextract (VAE). The antiproliferative effect of VAE/APVAE was determined in five cell lines (NCI-H460, DU-145, HCC1143, MV3, and PA-TU-8902) by WST-1 assayin vitro; no difference was found between VAE and APVAE in any cell line tested (P>0.14). Incidence of colchicine tumor formation was assessed by measurement of the root/shoot-ratio of seedlings ofLepidium sativumtreated with colchicine as well as VAE, APVAE, or water. Colchicine tumor formation decreased after application of VAE (−5.4% compared to water,P<0.001) and was even stronger by APVAE (−8.8% compared to water,P<0.001). The high-speed mistletoe extract mixing process investigated thus did not influence toxicity against cancer cells but seemed to sustain morphostasis and to enhance resistance against external noxious influences leading to phenomenological malformations.

scholarly journals Treatment of overwintering apple leaves to reduce primary inoculum of apple black spot

2003 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 95-99
Author(s):  
K. Tshomo ◽  
I.J. Horner ◽  
M. Walter ◽  
A. Stewart ◽  
M.V. Jaspers
Keyword(s):  
Venturia Inaequalis ◽  
Black Spot ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Primary Inoculum ◽  
Apple Leaves ◽  
Fungal Isolates ◽  
Glass Slides ◽  
Ascospore Production ◽  
Nutrient Amendments

Field trials were conducted in Hawkes Bay and Lincoln into methods of treating overwintering apple leaves to reduce ascospore production by the apple black spot pathogen Venturia inaequalis The leaf treatments comprised three levels of nutrient amendments (including a water control) and five levels of saprophytic fungal isolates (including a nofungus control) in a factorial design Leaves were left to overwinter on the orchard floor and in spring the V inaequalis ascospores released were trapped on glass slides and counted Ascospore numbers were reduced (Plt;005) by the leaf amendment urea which alone caused 73 reduction but not by the BioStarttrade; product The effect of fungal isolates was not significant (P012) although when combined with the water treatment the isolates Chaetomium Phoma and Epicoccum spp and Trametes versicolor reduced numbers of ascospores by 33 27 15 and 28 respectively compared to the nofungus control When combined with urea the Chaetomium isolate reduced ascospore numbers by 92 and 82 compared to the nil fungus/water control treatments in Hawkes Bay and Lincoln respectively indicating that this treatment has potential for reducing primary inoculum of apple black spot

Preclinical investigation of interaction of mistletoe extract (Viscum album L.) with radio- and chemotherapy in pediatric tumor cell lines

Phytomedicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Katrin Menke ◽  
Melanie Schwermer ◽  
Katharina Falke ◽  
Jürgen Eisenbraun ◽  
Alexander Schramm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cell ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Viscum Album ◽  
Tumor Cell Lines ◽  
Pediatric Tumor ◽  
Mistletoe Extract ◽  
Preclinical Investigation
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