The effect of homoeopathic treatment on percentage germination of lettuce (lacuta savita) seeds and the effect of a homoeopathic antidote upon these treatments

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of homoeopathic medicine treatments on Lactuca sativa (lettuce) seed germination. It was hypothesized that Sulphur, Nitric acid and Camphor treatments would effect seed germination and that a combination of the formative two treatments individually combined with Camphor at the same potency levels would have an antidotal effect when compared to the original outcome. Four experiments were conducted: Experiment 1 - Germinability trial utilizing high germinability Commander cultivar seed (96% germinability) involving the application of four homoeopathic treatments (Sulphur, Nitric acid, Sulphur/Camphor, Nitric acid/Camphor) at thirty different potency levels (3CH~32CH) and a Control. Experiment 2 - Germinability trial utilizing 0% germinability Commander cultivar seed involving application of four homoeopathic treatments (Sulphur, Nitric acid, Sulphur/Camphor, and Nitric acid/Camphor) at four different potency levels (3CH, 9CH, 15CH & 30CH) and a Control. Experiment 3 - Germinability trial utilizing three different cultivars (Greenfield, Great Lakes and Grand Rapids) involving application of five homoeopathic treatments (Sulphur, Nitric acid, Sulphur/Camphor, Nitric acid/Camphor and Camphor) at four different potency levels (3CH, 9CH, 15CH & 30CH). Experiment 4 - Germinability trial utilizing four different cultivars (Commander, Greenfield, Great Lakes and Grand Rapids) involving one homoeopathic treatment (Camphor 3CH) under four different light and temperature conditions (light @ 15\xB0C; light @ 29\xB0C; dark @ 15\xB0C and dark @ 29\xB0C). The investigation supported the above hypotheses with clear measurable and statistically significant differences being noted for Sulphur, Nitric acid and Camphor on lettuce seed germination. Camphor showed consistently faster germ inability when compared to other treatments independent of cultivar type. Combined treatments of Sulphur/Camphor and Nitric acid/Camphor (in &