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Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements of the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Aim The aim of this controlled, experimental study was to compare the biological activity of various homoeopathic potencies of gibberellic acid manufactured radionically (AMS transfer device) and conventionally (GHP) in terms of their respective influence on germination rate and seedling development of barley seeds; all the respective results being contrasted against those produced by the distilled water control. Methodology The research was completed by employing quantitative research techniques and followed true experimental design. Homoeopathically (Hahnemannian) prepared gibberellic acid followed the manufacturing guidelines of method 5a involving liquid preparations, as specified in the German Homoeopathic pharmacopoeia (GHP) (Benyunes 2005). A second radionic ‘equivalent’ version of each of the Hahnemannian potencies was manufactured using the ‘AMS wave transfer’ device. Four sources of data were collected namely, germination count and rate, seedling development (root length), seedling dry mass, and number of seeds with measurable roots. All the data was collected and documented on a data collection sheet using Microsoft Excel. All the data was statistically analysed and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using GenStat Version 14 (VSN International, UK) at the 5% level of significance. The statistical data was used to produce a comparison between the different remedies and distilled water. Results All of the remedy treatment groups (Radionic 200c, Hahnemannian 200cH, Radionic 4c and Hahnemannian 4cH) displayed suppressive effects (to certain extents respectively ) on seed growth and development in comparison to the control group (distilled water). The control group displayed greater seedling development in comparison to all remedy treatment groups which was most evident in the average root lengths and high vigour seed lot root lengths having longer roots than all remedy treatment groups. The control group also displayed a higher number of seeds with measurable roots compared to all the remedy treatment groups in both total number of seeds and in the seeds accounted for in the high vigour lots. This suggests that all Homoeopathic remedies irrespective of potency or manufacture method (Radionic or Hahnemmanian) had similar suppressive effects on root growth and seedling development and this suppressive effect was in turn not evident in the control group. Conclusion The experiment results suggest that radionically manufactured homoeopathic remedies (AMS wave transfer device) have similar biological effects (suppressive effects) to the equivalent Hahnemannian manufactured homoeopathic remedies, although further research in this field is necessary to confirm these findings the results from this study are supportive of the use of radionically prepared remedies in homoeopathic practice. / M

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of gibberellic acid on palatability and digestibility of two grasses, orchard grass and Kentucky 31 fescue. The GA was applied as a spray, except one granular application, at rates of 18 to 72 gm./A. Sheep were used to test the grass for palatability and digestibility. In addition to proximate analysis of grass, data were obtained on soluble carbohydrate, cellulose and lignin contents. Chemical composition of orchard grass was not affected by GA treatment. The most consistent effect of GA on the chemical composition of fescue was a depression of protein content. Ash content was decreased slightly, but consistently. GA increased crude fiber in two experiments; did not affect it in three. Nitrogen free extract was increased slightly in three of the five tests. Cellulose was increased by GA in the summer and fall of 1960, but not in the spring. Lignin was increased in the spring of that year and decreased in the summer and fall. Ether extract and soluble carbohydrate contents were not consistently affected by GA. In general, chemical changes by GA were less than 5%. Orchard grass palatability was improved by GA. In two out of three trials with Kentucky 31 fescue, consumption of GA treated grass was about 38% less than for the control. Irrigation increased palatability, probably due to a large difference in moisture content of the grass. No chemical differences observed were consistently related to selection of grass by the sheep. Digestibility of dry matter in grass tended to be decreased by GA in four out of five experiments. These depressions were less than 5% and in only two cases were they significant. Digestibility of protein, crude fiber, nitrogen free extract and cellulose tended to be decreased and ether extract was made more digestible by GA. Due to the small changes in both digestibility and chemical composition caused by GA no clear-cut explanations could be given for the reduction of digestibility. The effect seems related to a slight protein reduction and in some cases to an increase in crude fiber and cellulose. Although a number of factors which may affect GA response (time after application, growth rate of grass, light intensity, temperature, etc.) have not been studied, it seems unlikely that this growth regulator will exert much effect on the factors controlling digestibility of grass under field conditions. The effect on palatability is more pronounced, but not consistent. The digestibility of fall grown fescue increased with age. This increase probably resulted from accumulation of soluble carbohydrates and decreases in crude fiber, cellulose, and lignin contents in the grass. / Ph. D.