Homeopathy 2020; 109(01): A1-A28
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1702063
Oral Abstracts
The Faculty of Homeopathy

Immobilisation of Solvatochromic Dyes on Transparent Membranes; a Simple and Effective Method for Investigating the Physics of Homeopathic Potencies

Steven J. Cartwright
1   Cherwell Innovation Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
05 February 2020 (online)

 

Background and Aims: Solvatochromic dyes have demonstrated themselves to be effective detectors of homeopathic potencies. Current research is directed at the immobilisation of solvatochromic dyes onto transparent membranes in order to examine in detail the primary interaction between a range of different homeopathic medicines across potency scales.

Methods: It has been found that a number of solvatochromic dyes can be covalently immobilised onto cellulose membranes, thereby allowing a direct examination of the primary interaction between homeopathic potencies and molecular detectors. Immobilisation means that dye aggregation cannot occur and therefore a much clearer picture is beginning to emerge with respect to the kinetics and thermodynamics of potency-dye interactions.

Results: One surprising finding already emerging is that the interaction between dyes and potencies is hysteretic or S-shaped. This behaviour is characteristic of positive feed-back loops or auto-catalytic processes where a process self-strengthens over time before eventually reaching a maximum. Results suggest some kind of resonant interaction between potencies and dyes is taking place, the strength and development of which is dependent upon starting conditions and the electronic and structural features of the dye used. Further findings indicate that potencies are not constant in their strength but fluctuate over time.

Conclusions: What the possible causes of both the hysteretic behaviour of potencies and the fluctuations in potency strength over time are, and what they mean for homeopathy in general, will be discussed, along with what these results may be telling us about the likely identity of potencies.

Keywords: Solvatochromism, immobilisation, feedback, hysteresis, resonance