Solvatochromic dyes as a tool for tracking homeopathic complex activity in water reservoirs of a spring park in Brazil: Physicochemical implications

Abstract

Introduction: Solvatochromic dyes seem to act as physicochemical markers of homeopathic medicines. Herein, methylene violet was selected from a pilot study to identify the homeopathic complex (Arnica montana 30 cH, Phosphorus 30 cH, Arsenicum album 30 cH, Ignatia amara 30 cH, and Staphysagria 30 cH) designed to be used in the Nascentes do Rio Taquari at IMASUL Environment Institute of Mato Grosso do Sul = Brazil) request, intending to facilitate the ecosystem's bioresilience after being burned down in September 2020. Brazil has no legal restrictions on using dynamized products in the natural environment. Methods: the complex was prepared in ethanol 30% and soaked in biodegradable inert gel (calcium acetate) set at nine strategic points in the park. Water samples were harvested from each point at different times, before and after the insertion of the devices. Then, they were filtered through a 0.22 Micra mesh filter for sterilization and frozen. For analysis, 1 cH potencies of each thawed water sample were prepared using 30% ethanol as solvent. The ready-made samples were submitted (or not) to a magnetic field (2400G average) for 15 minutes, whose flow was generated from a neodymium magnet (5.08 cm x 5.08 cm x 12.7 mm) isolated from any other electromagnetic influence. Soon, after magnetizing, samples were added 1:60 into methylene violet dye, prepared in water pH=4.0, in microplates, and read in an ELISA reader at a wavelength of 598 nm. Controls were 30% ethanol, Ethylicum 1cH, and magnetized water. Statistical analysis was performed by the Shapiro-Wilk normality test and parametric or non-parametric ANOVA, with p≤0.05 considered significant. Results: Significant differences between the homeopathic complex and controls were seen when magnetized samples (p=0.0045). Instead, only one sample (point 2) without magnetization showed statistical significance (p≤0.05) from the controls. Conclusion: using solvatochromic dyes can be considered a good method to track the presence of the homeopathic complex in spring water, and the magnetization of samples seems to be an efficient tool to improve the method’s sensitivity.