In this paper the authors took droplets of various "low-potency" (not diluted very much) homeopathic remedies and let them dry up. Since these still have measurable concentrations of the original substances, it is not surprising that the dried residues form patterns, and that different patterns are produced from different substances. Also, it is not surprising that at the most dilute concentrations tested the patterns can no longer be distinguished from the pattern from pure water (though it is not clear why pure water leaves a pattern).
These results have nothing to do with the alleged effects of homeopathy at high dilutions, when there are no more of the original solute molecules present. It also is not clear how it can contribute anything to understanding how low potency homeopathic remedies (such as those studied) might work. But the authors feel that this line of research is promising, and apparently the editors of Homeopathy journal feel it is a worthy contribution.
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Homeopathy 2019; 108(02): 108-120
Phenomenological Characterization of Low-Potency Homeopathic Preparations by Means of Pattern Formation in Evaporating Droplets
Maria Olga Kokornaczyk (1), Sandra Würtenberger (2), Stephan Baumgartner (1,3)
1 Society for Cancer Research, Hiscia Institute, Arlesheim, Switzerland
2 Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Hevert-Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG, Nussbaum,
3 Institute of Integrative Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, Herdecke, Germany
Abstract
Background:
Evaporation-induced pattern formation in droplets has been applied to test effects of high potencies. Here we propose for the first time the droplet evaporation method (DEM) as a tool to characterize low potencies on a qualitative and quantitative basis.
Materials and Methods:
The present investigation consisted of: (1) screening of 18 different substances of mineral, vegetal, and animal origin in the 1x to 6x potency range; choice of four substances with characteristic pattern-forming properties; (2) replication experiments aiming at the differentiation of four homeopathic preparations at the same potency levels (2x–6x); and (3) control experiments performed on three preparations. The DEM experimental protocol consisted of the evaporation of droplets of the analyzed potency per se, placed on microscope slides and in controlled conditions. The resulting patterns were photographed and subjected to computerized image analysis.
Results:
The screening experiments yielded a wide variety of patterns. Homeopathic preparations of mineral origin showed the largest variety of forms, whereas potencies of vegetal origin mostly created dendritic patterns, probably due to diffusion-limited aggregation. The here-analyzed image analysis variables (gray-level distribution, entropy, and inverse difference moment) allowed a highly significant differentiation of patterns prepared from four substances (Echinacea, Baptisia, Luffa, and Spongia) at the same potency levels in the range 2x to 4x, whereas patterns obtained from potencies 5x and 6x could no longer be differentiated and resembled the pattern of pure solute (purified water). The control experiments showed reasonable experimental model stability.
Conclusions:
DEM seems to be a promising tool for qualitative phenomenological characterization of homeopathic preparations in low potency. We propose the application of the current experimental model for investigating further research topics in this field, such as the comparison of potencies versus simple dilutions or the contribution of component remedies to the patterns formed by homeopathic combination medicines.
Free full text:
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/s-0038-1676325Excerpts:
“In homeopathic basic research, the mainstream of studies concerns high potencies. Effects of dilutions beyond the Avogadro limit, being inconsistent with the present state of scientific knowledge, represent an interesting topic for scientific investigation. Moreover, based on Hahnemann's Organon,[1] the ‘power’ of a remedy should increase with its dilution; thus, studying the effectiveness of high potencies, rather than low potencies, seems to be reasonable. From this perspective, low potencies seem to be less interesting. However, the fact that they still contain substantive material allows one to study characteristics of this very substance as well as substance-specific changes due to the successive dilution and potentization steps.
“Phase-transition-induced pattern formation is a process that forms the basis of different methods applied in homeopathic basic research.[2] One such method is the droplet evaporation method (DEM), where the sample to be analyzed is applied on a substrate in the form of droplets and left for drying. The desiccated residues of such droplets, containing often surprisingly ordered patterns, comprise the main output of the method and serve as a data source for further analysis.”
“In contrast to common analytical methods aiming at isolation, identification, and quantification of defined material compounds, phase-transition-induced pattern formation is a complementary scientific approach aiming at studying and characterizing the wholeness of a given sample, which can be seen to be more than the sum of its parts...Phenomenological science describes forms of nature by using qualitative and quantitative research methods to identify characteristic elements that are unique and specific for a given element of nature.
“Here we propose a DEM experimental model consisting of the evaporation of a single droplet of a given homeopathic preparation per se (i.e., without any pre-treatment or addition of reagents) and apply DEM for the first time to investigate low potencies.” The present study included a pilot study, where a wide choice of substances of mineral, vegetal, and animal origin, used for the preparation of homeopathic potencies, was screened by means of DEM in the potency range 1x to 6x for their pattern-forming properties. The main study aimed at testing DEM's ability to distinguish between four pre-selected substances in increasing dilution/succussion levels ranging from 2x to 6x.”
“Based on the results of the pilot study, four substances (Baptisia [ B], Echinacea [ E], Luffa [ L], and Spongia [ S]) were chosen for the main study...”
“The patterns collected in the main study were subjected to computerized pattern evaluation followed by statistical analysis.”
“The choice of the substances was based on both their use in the homeopathic products Sinusitis Hevert SL and Calmvalera (drops and tablets) and their diversity regarding provenance (mineral, plant, or animal origin) and expected crystallographic properties.”
"Discussion"
"A visual inspection of the images revealed that potencies of mineral origin delivered the largest variety of structures ([Fig. 3]), whereas in patterns obtained from vegetal and animal potencies this variety of observed forms was less marked ([Fig. 4]). As regards potencies of mineral origin, out of the observation of forms it can be said that different pattern-forming mechanisms took place, involving inter alia: (1) classical crystal growth mechanisms relying on attachment of monomers and leading to the formation of solid, geometric crystals...(2) formation of structures outside the droplet border (creeping crystals in Natrium sulfuricum 2x...(3) formation of filament-like structures (Aurum chloratum 3x...(4) formation of cracks due to tensions appearing in desiccating films (Silicea 1x..."
"In potencies of vegetal origin, the predominant pattern-forming process seemed to be diffusion-limited aggregation relying on the attachment of clusters which, in the course of droplet evaporation, following Brownian motion, attach themselves to protruding structures leading to dendritic growth..."
"As regards typical pattern-forming processes in potencies of animal origin, it is not possible to make a statement based on the present study, since it involved only three such potencies (Apis, Lachesis, and Spongia). However, all these potencies were characterized by very poor pattern-forming properties and created circles only, probably due to step-wise shrinking of the droplet perimeter during evaporation..."
"Based on past experience, we decided to concentrate on dendritic structures also in the present investigation of low potencies per se. Therefore we chose for the main study three substances of vegetal origin (Baptisia, Echinacea, and Luffa) due to their ability to create dendritic, fractal-like structures in the droplet center in the potency range 2x to 4x. To complement these three substances of vegetal origin with one substance of animal origin, we further added Spongia to the main study."
"Low homeopathic potencies represent an interesting field of study, providing the possibility to investigate the material that is still present in these dilution levels, thus shedding new light on the procedure of homeopathic potentization by investigating the effects of the first dilution/succussion steps on the material potentized.
"In the present study, we showed that DEM applied to potencies per se was able to differentiate phenomenologically between potencies derived from different substances in the potency range 2x to 4x. In this investigation, only one batch of each substance was studied. Further investigations will have to compare independent batches (mother tinctures prepared from material from different harvesting years and/or areas) to determine possible generalization from the differences between mother tinctures as observed in this study."
"The different, non-dendritic, pattern-forming phenomena observed in the pilot study in potencies of mineral origin—for instance the classical nucleation mechanism, creeping crystals, and cracks ([Fig. 3])—represent also an interesting and new field of investigation. So far, all methods based on evaporation-induced pattern formation applied in homeopathic basic research have concentrated on fractal structures formed in the course of diffusion-limited aggregation (e.g., dendritic structures); it is not known if other non-dendritic pattern-forming phenomena might also be sensitive to the effects of potencies.
"Conclusions
"In the present study, we proposed DEM for the first time for analyzing low potencies per se and showed that the evaporation-induced pattern formation in droplets may represent a suitable tool for their phenomenological characterization, due to the fact that they still contain material. Formation of patterns in evaporating droplets has previously been used to analyze effects of high and ultra-high potencies by means of experimental models including test organisms, or applying a sequence of droplets dried one on another residue. Low potencies, retaining enough material for the pattern formation, allow the application of the method without the use of any test organisms or additives. The reported experimental protocol may serve as a basis for further studies in this field, such as comparison of potencies versus dilutions, or studies on homeopathic combination remedies with regard to the influence their single remedy components may have on the pattern of different mixtures."
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