Tracking a Homeopathic Complex Formulation in the Watercourses of a Fire-Damaged State Park in Brazil

Abstract

Introduction In 2020, a 26,849-ha state park in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, had 30% of its area damaged by fire. A homeopathic complex formulation was applied at strategic point locations in the park's springs or watercourses, aiming to mitigate the fire damage to the flora and fauna as quickly as possible. The duration of the homeopathic signal at each point was assessed using an established solvatochromic dye technique. Objective To evaluate the timing and the nature of the signal at each of nine point locations. We could thus identify the presence of any signal variations due to specified environmental features within the park. Methods Water samples were harvested from each intervention point at different times, filtered, frozen, and sent to the laboratory, where they were prepared to 1cH using filtered 30% ethanol. Methylene violet was chosen among six dyes since it was found in preliminary tests that it could trace the homeopathic complex used. In addition to simple sample testing, samples were submitted to a static and unidirectional magnetic field of 2400 Gauss (240 mT) for 15 minutes immediately before reading, which enhanced the method's sensitivity. One-way analysis of variance/Tukey test was used to identify dye absorbance changes following the analysis of water samples from the watercourse system. A correlation matrix and the Spearman r test were employed to evaluate any correlation between tracking and the pre-existing anthropic interventions at harvesting points. In all cases, α = 0.05. Results Four tracking patterns using the sample magnetization process were observed in relation to water samples and their effect on methylene violet solutions: no response (P2, P4), early transitory response (P5, P6, P8), late response (P1, P9), and constant response (P3, P7). P2 and P4, which could not be tracked, were correlated with permanent local anthropic disturbance. Conclusions Methylene violet was the best dye to track the homeopathic complex prepared specifically for this case. Tracking was facilitated by prior magnetic treatment of samples, but anthropic disturbances to the environment seem to interfere with it.