title: First evidence of Beauvais' hypothesis in a plant model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Beauvais presented the application of a so-called 'quantum-like model of homeopathy' by introducing the idea of a type of randomization/unblinding which he called 'in situ'. He predicted that randomized studies based on this type of randomization/unblinding lead to more pronounced effects in placebo controlled randomized homeopathic trials. We designed an experiment regarding wheat germination and stalk length to investigate Beauvais' idea of 'in situ randomization/unblinding' using a homeopathic dilution of sulphur (LM VI) as compared to placebo as well as to water.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of this double-blind randomized controlled experiment was to investigate whether there are differences of 'in situ randomization/unblinding' vs 'central randomization/unblinding' with respect to the effect of a homeopathic substance compared to placebo. The secondary aim of our study was to examine possible differences between the sulphur and the placebo group in the 'in situ' arm regarding germination and/or stalk growth of wheat seedlings measured after a seven days exposure. Wheat was treated either with sulphur LM VI, placebo, or water. The wheat grains were placed on glass lids and treatment was performed following the 'in situ randomization/unblinding' as well as 'central randomization/unblinding' method. Germination was measured and classified into three categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Under 'in situ' randomization/unblinding the odds of a seed not to germinate is 40% lower if treated with sulphur compared to placebo (p=0.004). In contrast, these odds are practically equal in the 'central' meta-group (OR=1.01, p=0.954). Under 'in situ' randomization/unblinding the odds of a seed to germinate with a length ≥1mm is practically equal if treated with sulphur or with placebo (OR=0.96, p=0.717). In contrast, these odds are 21% higher under sulphur compared to placebo in the 'central' meta-group (OR=1.21, p=0.062). In summary, we found a sulphur effect that is significantly different between 'in situ' and 'central' randomization/unblinding relating to all three stages of germination.
authors.affiliation: Sola Salus, Institute for Homeopathic Research, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: info@remedi.at.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thieves
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gleiss
authors.affiliation: University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Karl Wilhelm
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kratky
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Vienna, Department of Medicine I, Outpatient Unit Homeopathy in Malignant Diseases, Vienna, Austria; Scientific Society for Homeopathy, Köthen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frass
mesh_terms: D004311:Double-Blind Method; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D006705:Homeopathy; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011789:Quantum Theory; D011897:Random Allocation; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D013455:Sulfur
keywords: Beauvais' hypothesis; Central randomization/unblinding; In situ randomization/unblinding; Plant model; Quantum-like model of homeopathy; Sulphur; Wheat