Effects of Exposure to Physical Factors on Homeopathic Preparations as Determined by Ultraviolet Light Spectroscopy
Barbara Marschollek, Mathias Nelle, Martin Wolf, Stephan Baumgartner, Peter Heusser, and Ursula Wolf
Clinical trials have reported statistically significant and clinically relevant effects of
homeopathic preparations. We applied ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy to investigate the
physical properties of homeopathic preparations and to contribute to an understanding
of the not-yet-identified mode of action. In previous investigations, homeopathic
preparations had significantly lower UV light transmissions than controls. The aim of this
study was to explore the possible effects of external factors (UV light and temperature)
on the homeopathic preparations. Homeopathic centesimal (c) dilutions, 1c to 30c, of
copper sulfate (CuSO4), decimal dilutions of sulfur (S8), 1x to 30x, and controls
(succussed potentization medium) were prepared, randomized, and blinded. UV
transmission was measured at six different time points after preparation (from 4 to 256
days). In addition, one series of samples was exposed to UV light of a sterilization lamp
for 12 h, one was incubated at 37°C for 24 h, and one was heated to 90°C for 15 min. UV
light transmission values from 190 or 220 nm to 340 nm were measured several times
and averaged. After each exposure, UV transmission of the homeopathic preparations of
CuSO4 was significantly reduced compared to the controls, particularly after heating to
37ºC. Overall, the nonexposed CuSO4 preparations did not show significantly lower UV
transmission compared to controls; however, the pooled subgroup of measurements at
days 26, 33, and 110 yielded significant differences. UV light transmission for S8
preparations did not show any differences compared to controls. Our conclusion is that
exposure to external factors, incubation at 37°C in particular, increases the difference in
light transmission of homeopathic CuSO4 preparations compared to controls.
KEYWORDS: UV spectroscopy, optical properties, physical properties, chemical properties,
homeopathy, anthroposophic medicine, exposure