Mutual information and the homeopathic effect

Homeopathy. 2003 Jan;92(1):30-4. doi: 10.1054/homp.2002.0069.

Abstract

We explore the feasibility of using mutual information to characterize the homeopathic effect. This quantity measures the information gained about a signal at time (t + tau), from its value at an earlier time t; it quantifies the predictability of data. We illustrate our method with an analysis of the homeopathic effect of Strophanthus hispidus on the cardiac rhythm of healthy human subjects, using data from a previous experiment. Our results allow an intuitively clear rendering and agree with the similitude principle applied to this case. They also show that the solvent has a significant effect on the signal; hence, it does not act as an ideal placebo and we discuss some therapeutic corollaries to this observation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Feasibility Studies
  • Heart Rate / drug effects*
  • Homeopathy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plants, Medicinal*
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Strophanthus*

Substances

  • Plant Extracts