title: Comparison of homeopathic globules prepared from high and ultra-high dilutions of various starting materials by ultraviolet light spectroscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Homeopathic globules are commonly used in clinical practice, while research focuses on liquid potencies. Sequential dilution and succussion in their production process has been proposed to change the physico-chemical properties of the solvent(s). It has been reported that aqueous potencies of various starting materials showed significant differences in ultraviolet light transmission compared to controls and between different dilution levels. The aim of the present study was to repeat and expand these experiments to homeopathic globules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Globules were specially produced for this study by Spagyros AG (Gümligen, Switzerland) from 6 starting materials (Aconitum napellus, Atropa belladonna, phosphorus, sulfur, Apis mellifica, quartz) and for 6 dilution levels (6x, 12x, 30c, 200c, 200CF (centesimal discontinuous fluxion), 10,000CF). Native globules and globules impregnated with solvents were used as controls. Globules were dissolved in ultrapure water, and absorbance in the ultraviolet range was measured. The average absorbance from 200 to 340nm was calculated and corrected for differences between measurement days and instrumental drift.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences were found for A. napellus, sulfur, and A. mellifica when normalized average absorbance of the various dilution levels from the same starting material (including control and solvent control globules) was compared. Additionally, absorbance within dilution levels was compared among the various starting materials. Statistically significant differences were found among 30c, 200c and 200CF dilutions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has expanded previous findings from aqueous potencies to globules and may indicate that characteristics of aqueous high dilutions may be preserved and detectable in dissolved globules.
authors: Institute of Complementary Medicine, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: sabine.klein@ikom.unibe.ch.
authors: Sabine D
authors: SD
authors: Klein
authors: Institute of Complementary Medicine, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Ursula
authors: U
authors: Wolf
mesh_terms: D031841:Aconitum; D000818:Animals; D001532:Atropa belladonna; D001516:Bees; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods*; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D010758:Phosphorus; D011791:Quartz; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / Q000379:methods*; D013455:Sulfur
chemical_list: D008419:Materia Medica; D011791:Quartz; D010758:Phosphorus; D013455:Sulfur
keywords: Anthroposophically extended medicine; Complementary medicine; Globules; High dilutions; Homeopathy; UV spectroscopy