Theses and dissertations (Health Sciences)

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A homoeopathic drug proving of Acacia xanthophloea 30CH with a subsequent comparison to its use in African medical tradition
(2016) Gobind, Anitha; Maharaj, Madhueshwaree; Hall, Cornelia Maria
Aim The aim of this homoeopathic proving study was to determine and document the arising symptomatology of Acacia xanthophloea (Fever tree) in the potentised homoeopathic form, 30CH, and to provide this data for inclusion to the homoeopathic materia medica. The results of this proving study and comparative analysis to African traditional medicinal uses of this substance confirms the potential therapeutic value of the remedy. Methodology The homoeopathic drug proving of Acacia xanthophloea 30CH was conducted in the form of a double blinded placebo controlled study. The investigation consisted of a total of 30 provers divided equally between two researchers ((A. Gobind and G. Zondi). The sample was randomly divided into two groups in which 24 provers(80%) were assigned into the verum group and the remaining six provers (20%) were allocated to the placebo group. All provers were requested to record their daily symptoms on the physical, mental and emotional planes in their journals for one week prior to administration of the proving substance. This formed as a mode of control for the comparison of symptomatology for the pre-proving and post proving period. A thorough case history was taken and physical examination performed on each prover before the commencement of the proving and after the duration of the proving period. Each prover received a total of nine powders. Starting on day 8 of the study the provers consumed one powder three times a day for three days and documented their daily symptoms in a journal. The duration of the proving term was six weeks in total. During this interval the researcher maintained consistent contact with the provers. Upon completion of the proving period all journals were collected and the information contained within these journals was translated into the materia medica and repertory format. This facilitated the establishment of the remedy portrait of Acacia xanthophloea 30CH. A subsequent comparison between the symptomatology that materialised in the provers and the African traditional medicinal uses was duly conducted. Results An extensive range of symptoms was reported by the provers. The outstanding themes that emanated from this proving on the mental plane include anger, anxiety, aversion to company, cheerful, depression, irritability, mood swings, restlessness, tranquillity and stress. A broad range of headaches were described with some headaches being associated with the eye. There were many eye symptoms displayed by the provers which include itching, redness, burning sensation and pain. The stomach symptoms revealed marked increased thirst, changeable appetite, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea with watery stools.The female genitalia / sex indicated several symptoms ranging from painful menstruation, bleeding and copious blood flow.The greatest number of symptoms in a system was associated with extremities, producing the greatest number of rubrics in the repertory section. Dream themes depicted by the provers were especially visionary, about family and friends in addition to other themes. The correlation process between the homoeopathic drug proving of Acacia xanthophloea 30CH and the African traditional medicinal use of the substance brought several resemblances to light.There were clear similarities with the eye symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms and headaches. Conclusion As hypothesised Acacia xanthophloea 30CH did produce distinctly observable signs and symptoms when administered to healthy provers. The symptoms that emerged during the proving provide evidence that an overlay exists between the remedy Acacia xanthphloea 30CH and the traditional use of the crude substance Acacia xanthophloea. The researcher proposes that further research should be conducted to determine the symptomatology of various homoeopathic potencies so that a complete image of the remedy Acacia xanthophloea 30CH can be established and the clinical applications can be broadened.
A homoeopathic drug proving of Acacia Xanthophloea 30CH, with subsequent comparison to the doctrine of signatures
(2016) Zondi, Gugulethu Moonlight; Maharaj, M.; Hall, Cornelia Maria
The objective of the following study was threefold: to conduct a homoeopathic drug proving of Acacia xanthophloea 30CH on healthy individuals in order to elucidate the totality of signs and symptoms produced by the drug substance; to analyse the signs and symptoms gathered from the proving, collate the data, and convert the symptoms into materia medica symptoms and rubrics; to compare the symptoms of the proving to the doctrine of signatures. Methodology This proving study was a double-blinded, placebo controlled study. Thirty provers or participants were recruited for the study and the sample size was divided equally between two researchers (A. Gobind and G. Zondi). The sample was randomly divided into two groups, with one group receiving an active substance (verum group) and the other group receiving a placebo (control group). Amongst the 30 provers, 24 participants received verum and six received placebo. Each prover was given a journal to record their symptoms, a pen and nine powders. The duration of this proving study was six weeks including the first week of baseline during which time each prover was required to record their symptoms before taking the proving substance. This procedure was clearly explained to each prover and an information sheet with detail explanation of the proving procedure was provided and informed consent obtained. A thorough case history was taken in the initial consultation and physical examinations to ensure that individuals participating met the inclusion criteria and were healthy. Results Information derived both researchers was combined and the extraction of signs and symptoms then commenced. The symptoms were translated into materia medica and repertory format and graded accordingly. Thereafter the symptoms that emerged from the study were discussed and compared with the doctrine of signatures of Acacia xanthophloea. Provers experienced a wide range of symptoms mentally and emotionally e.g. anger, poor concentration and focus, disconnected feeling, depression, stress, anxiety, antisocial/ aversion to company, tranquillity. A large number of physical symptoms were noted by provers e. g. headaches, ailments of extremities (joint pain, weakness), female related symptoms (irregular menses, decrease/ increase libido etc.), eye symptoms, skin symptoms and general symptoms. The comparison of the symptoms of Acacia xanthophloea 30CH to the doctrine of signatures of the tree Acacia xanthophloea illustrated certain similarities, especially with regard to skin symptoms, eye symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms and headaches. Conclusion The proving substance Acacia xanthophloea 30CH did produced signs and symptoms when given to healthy individuals as hypothesised. The symptoms when compared to the doctrine of signatures of the acacia xanthophloea tree did show correlation as hypothesised.