| One of the challenges made to homeopathy, is that
it only works by placebo. What better way to dispel that notion,
than by showing that plants respond to the remedies. Here we reference
three studies using homeopathic preparations on plants, plus an
anecdotal report on homeopathic preparations being used as fertilizer
nutrients and to protect plants from pests.
Also in this issue, be sure to read Mark Moodie's article, "Homeopathy
for Plants" and the book review of "Homeopathy for Farm
and Garden".
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Homeopathically prepared gibberellic acid and barley seed
germination
B Hamman,1, G Koning1 and K Him Lok2
1 Department of Botany, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South
Africa
2 Department of Homoeopathy, Technikon of Natal, Durban, South Africa
Abstract
The potentisation process by which homeopathic preparations are
produced raises the concern that these medicines have placebo effects
only, since they theoretically no longer contain active molecules
of the diluted substance. Plant models offer a method of examining
the efficacy of homeopathically prepared solutions. This study examined
the effects of homeopathically prepared gibberellic acid (HGA3)
on the germination performance of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds.
The effect of HGA3 (4–200 cH) on seed germination rate and
seedling development was compared to that of the most commonly used
form of gibberellic acid (GA3), 0.5 g l-1, and control (distilled
water). The extent and type of response was dependent on the vigour
level of the seedlot. Treating seeds from three vigour groups in
HGA3 consistently resulted in larger seedlings. High-vigour seeds
treated with HGA3 4, 30 and 200 cH germinated faster, and roots
of medium-vigour seedlots treated in HGA3 15 cH were longer. Biphasic
effects of HGA3 were also demonstrated. As a plant model, germinating
barley seeds successfully demonstrated the ability of HGA3 to produce
a biological response.
Homeopathy. 2003 Oct;92(4):195-202.
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Effects of homeopathic arsenic on tobacco plant resistance
to tobacco mosaic virus. Theoretical suggestions about system variability,
based on a large experimental data set.
Betti L, Lazzarato L, Trebbi G, Brizzi M, Calzoni GL, Borghini F,
Nani D.
Department of Agro-Environmental Science and Technology, Faculty
of Agriculture, Bologna University, Italy. lucietta.betti@unibo.it
CONTEXT: This research aimed at verifying the efficacy of homeopathic
treatments by plant-based bioassays, which may be suitable for basic
research, because they lack placebo effects and provide large datasets
for statistical analyses. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of
homeopathic treatments of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on tobacco plants
subjected to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) inoculation as biotic stress.
DESIGN: Blind, randomized experiment using tobacco leaf disks. MATERIALS
AND METHODS: Tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L. cultivar Samsun)
carrying the TMV resistance gene N. TMV inoculated leaf disks were
floated for 3 days in the following: Distilled water (control).
H2O 5 and 45 decimal and centesimal potencies. As2O3 5 and 45 decimal
and centesimal potencies. The main outcome measures is the number
of hypersensitive lesions observed in a leaf disk. RESULTS: Homeopathic
treatments of arsenic induce two effects on the plant: (i) increased
resistance to TMV; (ii) decrease variability between experiments
(system variability). CONCLUSIONS: In this experimental model two
actions of homeopathic treatment were detected: decrease in system
variability and enhancement of the natural tendency of the system
towards an 'equilibrium point'.
PMID: 14587686 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Homoeopathy for healthy farm produce
Pankaj Jaiswal, Hindustan Times
Lucknow, July 17, 2007
Homoeopathy works wonders on the human body. But apparently, it
has the same effect on plants too, as an ascetic in Allahabad has
proven. Over 400 farmers have shifted from chemical fertilizers
and insecticides to his homoeopathic drugs and claim their crops
have never been healthier.
For the last five years, Swami Paramananda has been using his mixtures
on farm produce with great success. He has formulated six mixtures
— Homoeo Amrit, Sanjeevani, Rakshak, Sudha, Jeevan and Vardaan.
While the first two eliminate the need for DAP and urea, two widely
used fertilizers, the others protect against a variety of plant
disease and pests. “Potatoes grown using my mixtures don’t
shrivel up even months after harvesting. They don’t require
cold storage too,” he says. “Farmers find these (mixtures)
economical, effective and healthy. One little snag is that spraying
can be laborious.”
What’s more, they are good for the environment too, Paramananda
says. “Chemicals are damaging our soil. These medicines protect
and conserve the soil, and increases yield."
A government-appointed committee comprising the director general,
Uttar Pradesh Council of Agriculture Research; director of agriculture
management, UP; director of research, Allahabad Agriculture University;
and two other scientists verified the results. UPCAR deputy director
general Dr R.S. Rathore said: “We saw some visible effects
and the farmers were satisfied. But we will give out the results
only after three years of testing. However, we did see that homoeopathically-grown
potatoes have a longer shelf life.”
Interestingly, Paramananda seems to believe the way to winning
over the farmers is through their stomach. He has been holding community
feasts that serve baati-chokha (stuffed wheat-flour balls and vegetables)
made from homoeopathically-grown produce. The idea seems to be working
too.
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A team of Italian researchers, led by C. Cardella, observed
the effects of homeopathic diluted weed-killer on lentils' sprouting.
The researchers found that, based on a total of 68 observations,
those lentils that were given a 8CH of the weed- killer had a tendency
to sprout in greater numbers than those lentils given a placebo.
http://www.homeopathic.com/articles/view,68
__________________
# # #
Alan V. Schmukler is a homeopath and educator.
He is the author of Homeopathy: An A to Z Home Handbook.
You can visit his website at www.healgently.com.
Questions and comments are welcome at Alanheal@aol.com
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