Homeopathic Preparations to Control the Rosy Apple Aphid (Dysaphis plantagineaPass.)

Abstract

A laboratory model system with the rosy apple aphid (Dysaphis plantaginea Pass.) on apple seedlings was developed to study the effects of homeopathic preparations on this apple pest. The assessment included the substance Lycopodium clavatum and a nosode of the rosy apple aphid. Each preparation was applied on the substrate surface as aqueous solution of granules (6c, 15c, or 30c). Controls were aqueous solutions of placebo granules or pure water. In eight independent, randomized, and blinded experiments under standardized conditions in growth chambers, the development of aphids on treated and untreated apple seedlings was observed over 17 days, each. Six experiments were determined to assess the effects of a strict therapeutic treatment; two experiments were designed to determine the effects of a combined preventative and therapeutic treatment. After application of the preparations, the number of juvenile offspring and the damage on apple seedlings were assessed after 7 and 17 days, respectively. In addition, after 17 days, the seedling weight was measured. In the final evaluation of the six strictly therapeutic trials after 17 days, the number of juvenile offspring was reduced after application of L. clavatum 15c (-17%, p = 0.002) and nosode 6c (-14%, p = 0.02) compared to the pure water control. No significant effects were observed for leaf damage or fresh weight for any application. In the two experiments with combined preventative and therapeutic treatment, no significant effects were observed in any measured parameter. Homeopathic remedies may be effective in plant-pest systems. The magnitude of observed effects seems to be larger than in models with healthy plants, which renders plant-pest systems promising candidates for homeopathic basic research. For successful application in agriculture, however, the effect is not yet sufficient. This calls for further optimization concerning homeopathic remedy selection, potency level, dosage, and application routes.

Systematic Review of Plant-Based Homeopathic Basic Research: An Update

“…The MIS analysis showed 26 publications that reached 5 points or more, and were thus considered to provide sufficient information. 45-50,52,54,56,57,59-68,70,71,74, [76][77][78] Thirteen publications reported on the use of adequate controls, testing for influences of the potentisation process and effects caused by dilution medium (►Tables 2 and 3). 45,47,48,57,[60][61][62]65,66,71,74,76,78 In all 13 publications, significant effects of homeopathic preparations were described (see ►Fig.…”

Chamomile Cultivation Submitted to Ultra-diluted Phosphorus Solutions

“…Some homeopathic medicines are used in the control of phytopathogenic microorganisms (Trebbi et al, 2016;Shah-Rossi et al, 2009), such as Berberis vulgaris in the control of rust, powdery mildew and downy mildew (Bonato, 2014), and Propolis (6CH, 12CH and 30CH) to minimize the severity of early blight in tomato (Toledo et al, 2015). They are also used to reduce the incidence of insects such as aphids and thrips (Wyss et al, 2010;Gonçalves et al, 2017).…”

Biological effects and physico-chemical properties of extremely diluted aqueous solutions as a function of aging-time

“…At very high dilution levels (beyond the Avogadro limit) the probability of the presence of molecules of the original substance is near to zero (Marschollek et al 2010). This aspect represents one of the reasons why the biological effectiveness of EDS is still controversial, although there is emerging evidence for their in vitro activity (Brizzi et al , 2011Belon et al 2004;Witt et al 2007;Frenkel et al 2010;Endler et al 2011) as well as in vivo activity (Bellavite et al 2006;Welles et al 2007;Baumgartner et al 2008;Shah-Rossi et al 2009;Betti et al 2010;Jäger et al 2010;Magnani et al 2010;Wyss et al 2010). Based on physico-chemical measurements, it was hypothesized that the particular preparation technique of EDS could lead to a structural alteration of the aqueous solvent that appears to trigger the formation of molecular aggregates of water molecules (Samal and Geckeler 2001;Elia et al * Corresponding author.…”