title: Physiological effects of homeopathic medicines in closed phials--a critical evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phials containing high dilutions of homeopathic remedies are commonly utilized in diagnostic tools in combination with electro acupuncture measuring electrical conductivity of the skin. The present research aimed to elucidate the interaction of the homeopathic remedy and the human organism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study protocol included the transition of a healthy subject to a diseased state utilizing a sub-harmful dose of a toxin. Subsequently, the subject was exposed to a homeopathic or placebo remedy in a closed glass phial and electrical conductivity was measured in open as well as in blind trials. A total of 229 data were collected from open trials and 750 data from blind trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental data showed that homoeopathic remedies in closed glass phials may influence the electrical skin conductivity. The results of the blind trials differed considerably from those of the open trials. The percentage of correctly identified (verum and placebo) phials in the open trials (85%) was statistically different from those in the blind trials (65%). In both types of trials, however, the difference between the sealed phials containing the homeopathic medicine and the placebo was statistically significant. The results of measurements are directly linked to the way in which the tester holds the electrode in one hand and the subject's finger in the other, while putting pressure on the electrode.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that the tester's muscle tone is the intermediary in unconsciously selecting which phial influenced him in his specific contact with the subject.
authors.affiliation: Meluna Research, Geldermalsen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: meluna.wijk@wxs.nl.
authors.forename: Roeland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Wijk
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frederik Anton Clemens
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Wiegant
mesh_terms: D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005571:Formularies, Homeopathic as Topic; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015990:Placebo Effect; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012106:Research; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008419:Materia Medica; D012997:Solvents
keywords: High dilution; Homeopathy; Information transfer; Skin resistance