Reproducibility of dwarf pea shoot growth stimulation by homeopathic potencies of gibberellic acid
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Stephan Baumgartner, Devika Shaha, Johann Schaller, Urs Kämpfer, André Thurneysen, Peter Heusser
Summary
Objectives: Investigation of the conditions for reproducibility of dwarf pea shoot growth stimulation
through homeopathic potencies of gibberellic acid.
Methods: 4 batches of pea seed (Pisum sativum L. cv. Fr¨uher Zwerg; harvests from 1997, 1998,
1999, and 2000) were tested regarding their reaction to gibberellic acid 17x and 18x (compared
to unsuccussed and succussed water (1x) as controls) in 8 independent randomized and blinded
experiments. Pea seed was immersed for 24 h in watery solutions of homeopathic potencies
or controls, and cultivated under controlled laboratory conditions. Pea shoot length was measured
after 14 days. Two systematic negative control experiments assessed the stability of the
experimental set-up.
Results: The systematic negative control experiments yielded no significant effects and confirmed
the stability of the experimental set-up. 2 out of 4 seed batches reacted to the
homeopathic treatment (p < 0.05). Seed batch 1997 showed a reproducible reaction to gibberellic
acid 17x (shoot length stimulation of +11.2%, p = 0.007), and seed batch 1998 showed
a significant varying response (increase/decrease). Seed batch 1997 differed from the other
3 batches by an increased glucose and fructose content, and reduced 1000 kernel weight.
Meta-analysis with data of earlier experiments is in accordance with the results of the present
experimental series.
Conclusions: We identified ‘seed quality’ as a possible trigger factor for successful reproducibility
in homeopathic basic research. Premature harvesting as a possible key factor for
responsiveness of dwarf peas to homeopathic potencies of gibberellic acid is our current working
hypothesis to be tested in future experiments.