Interview with Christiane Maute

Interview with Christiane Maute on the occasion of the Symposium "Homeopathy for Plants" on 12 May 2012 in CH-Zug

"Here homeopathy could achieve quite a lot"

Is the idea of using homeopathy to treat plants new – or did Samuel Hahnemann already work with plants?
Christiane Maute: The idea is indeed new, that is to say, still little known. Personally I have been researching this topic for some time, but the use of homeopathy on plants has so far received little public attention. Interest is, however, increasing. People have probably grown tired of treating their plants with sometimes highly toxic sprays and are therefore open to new approaches.

At first glance the idea of treating plants with homeopathy is surprising. On second thought, however, the idea does not seem so far‑fetched …
I consider the use of homeopathy on plants even obvious, since they are living beings too and possess similar structures to humans and animals.

How should one imagine the mode of action of homeopathy in plants?
As with humans and animals, homeopathy in plants works via the pattern of vibrations. The homeopathic remedy carries information that is transmitted to the plant via the energy field. Depending on the case I work with lower or higher potencies.

What application possibilities does homeopathy offer for treating plants?
In principle any disease in plants can be treated with homeopathy; in my view it should certainly be tried. Even in difficult cases, such as a pear tree with fire blight, homeopathic treatment has already been successful; Anthracinum C 200 rendered good service in this instance. The pear tree survived, the others were not infected.

Unlike your human patients, plants cannot speak. Does that not make treatment immensely more difficult?
Indeed. That is also the greatest challenge when working with plants. That is why I try to find out what they lack by observing the plants and their leaves.

In a second step I combine my impressions of the plant with the key symptoms of the homeopathic remedies and derive my diagnosis from that. The weather conditions also help me with the diagnosis and the search for the suitable preparation.

Where does homeopathy for plants reach its limits?
It is not homeopathy itself that reaches limits, but we humans when we cannot find the appropriate remedy. Fungal diseases in plants, for example, are often a major challenge. Even though I already have many years of experience in homeopathy, I am always in a research phase – for life.

How does homeopathic treatment of plants differ from conventional plant protection products?
If the appropriate remedy can be found for the plant, often a single application per year is sufficient, as the plants are strengthened in the long term. Unlike chemical preparations, homeopathic remedies are completely environmentally friendly and are cheaper than conventional products, and they do not harm humans or beneficial organisms, especially bees, butterflies and insects, in any way. The application is also very simple: pour over, spray or mist. People also find it exciting to observe the effect of homeopathy on plants. In this way they automatically gain a stronger connection to nature.

How highly do you rate the potential of homeopathy for application to plants?
I see a huge potential here. Think, for example, of the over‑fertilised and exhausted soils in the Third World, but also here in Europe. Homeopathy could achieve a lot in these situations and open up new ways of dealing with nature. However, we should be aware that especially with depleted soils no improvement will be possible overnight, even with homeopathy. Fortunately, I am observing a large and growing interest in this topic – also from agriculture.