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Homeopathy Applied to Agriculture
ingredients. However, after numerous observations, he noted that the dilutions should be intimately
and uniformly mixed (by vigorous shaking) in order to better extract the healing power of the substance (mineral, vegetable, animal or other) (Aversa et al., 2016). Hahnemann became convinced
that the healing power could be maintained, by shaking, from the less to the more diluted preparation and did not depend on the physical presence of the original active ingredients but rather on their
action, which he called ‘spirit-like’ (Hahnemann, 1842). Homeopathic remedies are used at a wide
range of dilutions (Brazil, 2011). If we take the homeopathic centesimal dilution beyond 12CH, 1 it
is statistically unlikely to contain a single molecule of the original active ingredient because this
surpasses Avogadro’s constant (i.e. the proportionality factor that relates the number of constituent
particles in a sample with the amount of substance in that sample).
The fundamental homeopathic textbook is the ‘Organon of Rational Art of Healing’ (Hahnemann,
1842). Hahnemann published two other important works: ‘Materia Medica Pura’, a compilation of
homeopathic ‘proving’ reports, and ‘Chronic Diseases’, where Hahnemann revised and elaborated
on his therapeutic approach (Hahnemann, 1846a,b, 1996). His original ideas have been preserved
and some adaptations made since, in order to improve its practicality. This has led to the emergence
of different schools of homeopathy (Madsen, 2019).
In relation to this, anthroposophical medicine and the biodynamic preparations – as developed
by Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman in the early part of the last century – are sometimes erroneously
classifed as being based on homeopathy. Whilst some substances used may be potentised, they do
not follow the principle of similarity, nor the same method of diagnosis (Steiner, 2001).
TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THE MECHANISMS
BEHIND THE CONCEPT OF HOMEOPATHY
Hahnemann himself hated speculation. His approach was purely empirical to start with, he would
theorise only after numerous observations and he constantly corrected his works, resulting in six
editions of the ‘Organon’. He believed that the healing process was a secondary effect of a reaction
by a ‘life force’ or dynamism of the sick organism towards health (Hahnemann, 1810).
Through consecutive dilutions and succussions, the remedies tend to the infnitesimal, exceeding
Avogadro’s constant, as pointed above, at which point the particles cannot be detected. According
to dose dependent response, this ought to limit the action of the homeopathic preparation (Silva
et al., 2005), and this fuels the argument that a placebo effect is involved. However, scientifc evidence shows otherwise. Various felds of study have discussed the nature of high dilutions, ranging
from attempts to extrapolate mechanistic rationality through to drawing on complexity theory using
nonlinear systems models (Bell et al., 2002; Bonamin et al., 2008). Despite the alleged lack of molecules of the original active ingredients remaining, their biological effect has been systematically
and regularly proven in the treatment of plants, animals and humans (Bonfn and Casali, 2012).
Double-blind homeopathic trials have also eliminated any subjective (placebo) effect between the
patient and the researcher (Betti et al., 2009). Silva et al. (2005) has demonstrated the mode of
action of homeopathic remedies through the Quantum theory. The persistence of a biological effect
allows us to hypothesise that the curative property of homeopathy may be conserved as an image
impregnated in the water/alcohol solvent of the high dilutions (Silva et al., 2005). If this is the case,
then the active property of the remedies may be preserved even after consecutive dynamisations,
reliably identifable with the characteristics of the original raw material.
Another approach was reported by Chikramane et al. (2010). They used electron microscopy
and emission spectroscopy techniques to confrm the presence of physical entities in the form of
nanoparticles, in these extreme dilutions. They suggest that the succussion process causes acoustic cavitation – a mechanism that generates vapour bubbles – and confrm corresponding patterns
between the nanoparticles and the starting material. They were also able to measure differences
in patterns between different dilutions of remedies when various levels of radiation were applied.
1 CH dilutions are centesimal (C) dilutions, using Hahnemann’s (H) dilution method.
Homeopathy Applied to Agriculture
ingredients. However, after numerous observations, he noted that the dilutions should be intimately
and uniformly mixed (by vigorous shaking) in order to better extract the healing power of the substance (mineral, vegetable, animal or other) (Aversa et al., 2016). Hahnemann became convinced
that the healing power could be maintained, by shaking, from the less to the more diluted preparation and did not depend on the physical presence of the original active ingredients but rather on their
action, which he called ‘spirit-like’ (Hahnemann, 1842). Homeopathic remedies are used at a wide
range of dilutions (Brazil, 2011). If we take the homeopathic centesimal dilution beyond 12CH, 1 it
is statistically unlikely to contain a single molecule of the original active ingredient because this
surpasses Avogadro’s constant (i.e. the proportionality factor that relates the number of constituent
particles in a sample with the amount of substance in that sample).
The fundamental homeopathic textbook is the ‘Organon of Rational Art of Healing’ (Hahnemann,
1842). Hahnemann published two other important works: ‘Materia Medica Pura’, a compilation of
homeopathic ‘proving’ reports, and ‘Chronic Diseases’, where Hahnemann revised and elaborated
on his therapeutic approach (Hahnemann, 1846a,b, 1996). His original ideas have been preserved
and some adaptations made since, in order to improve its practicality. This has led to the emergence
of different schools of homeopathy (Madsen, 2019).
In relation to this, anthroposophical medicine and the biodynamic preparations – as developed
by Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman in the early part of the last century – are sometimes erroneously
classifed as being based on homeopathy. Whilst some substances used may be potentised, they do
not follow the principle of similarity, nor the same method of diagnosis (Steiner, 2001).
TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THE MECHANISMS
BEHIND THE CONCEPT OF HOMEOPATHY
Hahnemann himself hated speculation. His approach was purely empirical to start with, he would
theorise only after numerous observations and he constantly corrected his works, resulting in six
editions of the ‘Organon’. He believed that the healing process was a secondary effect of a reaction
by a ‘life force’ or dynamism of the sick organism towards health (Hahnemann, 1810).
Through consecutive dilutions and succussions, the remedies tend to the infnitesimal, exceeding
Avogadro’s constant, as pointed above, at which point the particles cannot be detected. According
to dose dependent response, this ought to limit the action of the homeopathic preparation (Silva
et al., 2005), and this fuels the argument that a placebo effect is involved. However, scientifc evidence shows otherwise. Various felds of study have discussed the nature of high dilutions, ranging
from attempts to extrapolate mechanistic rationality through to drawing on complexity theory using
nonlinear systems models (Bell et al., 2002; Bonamin et al., 2008). Despite the alleged lack of molecules of the original active ingredients remaining, their biological effect has been systematically
and regularly proven in the treatment of plants, animals and humans (Bonfn and Casali, 2012).
Double-blind homeopathic trials have also eliminated any subjective (placebo) effect between the
patient and the researcher (Betti et al., 2009). Silva et al. (2005) has demonstrated the mode of
action of homeopathic remedies through the Quantum theory. The persistence of a biological effect
allows us to hypothesise that the curative property of homeopathy may be conserved as an image
impregnated in the water/alcohol solvent of the high dilutions (Silva et al., 2005). If this is the case,
then the active property of the remedies may be preserved even after consecutive dynamisations,
reliably identifable with the characteristics of the original raw material.
Another approach was reported by Chikramane et al. (2010). They used electron microscopy
and emission spectroscopy techniques to confrm the presence of physical entities in the form of
nanoparticles, in these extreme dilutions. They suggest that the succussion process causes acoustic cavitation – a mechanism that generates vapour bubbles – and confrm corresponding patterns
between the nanoparticles and the starting material. They were also able to measure differences
in patterns between different dilutions of remedies when various levels of radiation were applied.
1 CH dilutions are centesimal (C) dilutions, using Hahnemann’s (H) dilution method.