Abstract
M.Tech.
Thyroxine, a hormone produced by the thyroid gland, is known to be important for the growth and development of animals. A homoeopathic preparation of thyroxine added to the aquaria water of Rana temporaria tadpoles was shown to be capable of either slowing down or accelerating metamorphosis at different stages of development. In addition, ultra high dilutions of hormones (endogenous molecules) have been shown to have physiological effects on the immune system of mice.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Thyroxine 15CH on the growth and development of laboratory rats.
Forty male rats at the Central Animal Services of the University of Witwatersrand were administered either the placebo or Thyroxine 15CH (20 control and 20 treatment) at 16 days of age for 30 consecutive days. Body weight and linear measurements (head-body and tail lengths) were recorded from day 16 to 100 days of age, and rectal temperatures were recorded from day 58 to 100 days of age. Thereafter, rats were euthanased and the brain, heart and liver weighed, total thyroxine blood levels were determined, and bone mineral density and percentage body fat ascertained. Each control rat was paired with a treatment rat of the same litter by initial weight readings taken on day 16 to form 20 experimental couplets. The recorded data was analysed using the ANOVA for repeated measures and paired t-test for single measurements.
Statistical analyses showed no significant differences between the control and treatment groups for all parameters measured (p > 0.05). In conclusion, Thyroxine 15CH did not have any statistically significant effect on the growth and development of laboratory rats. This research does not support the underlying philosophy of homoeopathy which is the Law of Similars, nor does it give evidentiary support to the theory of analogical communication as proposed by Lagache and Bastide. However, certain theories and explanations do exist to explain why no results were found, concluding that further research needs to be conducted in this field.