Pretreatment with thyroxin 10(-8) and the effect of homeopathically prepared thyroxin 10(-30) on highland frogs--a multi-researcher study.
BACKGROUND
Studies performed in 5 laboratories have shown that homeopathically prepared highly diluted thyroxin (10(-30)=30x) slowed down metamorphosis of highland amphibians. Metamorphosis of lowland amphibians, however, could be slowed down by a low dilution of thyroxin (10(-8)=8x) if animals had been artificially pretreated with thyroxin.


OBJECTIVE
To combine the advantages of using animals from highland biotopes and hyperstimulation prior to treatment.


METHODS
Rana temporaria from an alpine biotope were pretreated in an aqueous molecular thyroxin dilution (10(-8) parts by weight, hyperstimulation). This is supposed to accelerate metamorphosis. In accordance with the homeopathic idea of detoxification or cure, one group of these hyperstimulated animals was then treated with thyroxin 30x, and another group with water 30x. Experiments were performed by 4 independent researchers.


RESULTS
As a trend, the thyroxin-30x animals metamorphosed more slowly than the water-30x animals. The number of thyroxin-30x animals that reached the 4-legged stage at defined points in time was slightly smaller at some but not all points in time, compared to control. This is in line with previous findings and can be discussed as an interesting result. Contrary to our working hypothesis, however, differences were not bigger than in the previous experiments in which animals had not been pretreated with thyroxin 10(-8).


CONCLUSIONS
This study supports previous findings but does not prove the assumption that pretreatment of highland animals with molecular thyroxine improves the original protocol.
Welles
Sonja U
SU
Interuniversity College Graz, Castle of Seggau, Graz, Austria.
Endler
P Christian
PC
Scherer-Pongratz
Waltraud
W
Suanjak-Traidl
Erika
E
Weber
Sabrina
S
Spranger
Heinz
H
Frass
Michael
M
Lothaller
Harald
H
D000818:Animals; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological / Q000187:drug effects*; D011896:Rana temporaria / Q000254:growth & development*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D008419:Materia Medica; D014867:Water; D013974:Thyroxine