Theses and dissertations (Health Sciences)
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Item A materia medica comparison of bowel nosodes and related homoeopathic remedies(2020-11-30) Combrink-Potter, Deirdre; Hall, Cornelia Maria; Wulfsohn, Terence OrdeIntroduction The purpose of this study was to ascertain which homoeopathic remedies are most closely associated with the respective bowel nosodes with a specific focus on the similarities that exist with regards to the mental and physical symptomatology and the clinical indications by means of an independent comparative analysis conducted via computerised repertorisation. The purpose of ascertaining this information was to provide a better understanding of the interrelationships which exist between a given bowel nosode and its most closely associated homoeopathic remedies. This understanding will therefore provide more insight and may act as a guide as to when and how one can use the bowel nosodes in relation to specific homoeopathic remedies in practice. Methodology The following four bowel nosodes were selected for this study from the original listing compiled by Dr John Paterson (1890-1954), one of the pioneers of research on the bowel nosodes which was published in the article “The Bowel nosodes” in the British Homoeopathic Journal in 1950: Proteus (Bach), Gaertner (Bach), Dysentery Co. (Bach) and Sycotic Co. (Paterson). These nosodes were selected on the basis that they present with the most extensive, distinctive and distinguishable mental and physical symptoms when compared to the remaining seven bowel nosodes. The methodology employed for this study was based on a computerised repertorisation process utilising the Synergy Mac Repertory program. The most prominent and significant mental and physical symptomatology and clinical indication rubrics were selected as per the information obtained from the materia medicas, original works and from more recent authors. A repertorisation was conducted for each individual bowel nosode in order to determine the most closely associated homoeopathic remedies for each bowel nosode as per the above criteria. Results The results obtained through the repertorisation process included the following top three associated homoeopathic remedies pertaining to each individual bowel nosode. 1. Proteus (Bach) – Natrium muriaticum, Nux vomica and Sepia officinalis. 2. Gaertner (Bach) – Silicea terra, Mercurius vivus/solubilis and Nux vomica. 3. Dysentery Co. (Bach) – Lachesis muta, Argentum nitricum and Ignatia amara. 4. Sycotic Co. (Paterson) – Causticum, Nitricum acidum and Thuja occidentalis. Conclusion The results of this study revealed that many similarities pertaining to the mental and physical symptomatology and clinical indications exist between the chosen bowel nosodes and their respective associated homoeopathic remedies. These similarities provide more insight with regards to the interrelationship exiting between a particular bowel nosode and its associated homoeopathic remedies, therefore bringing a clearer understanding and consequently assisting the homoeopathic practitioner in the usage and prescription of the bowel nosodes in practice. The results of this study also revealed important correlations between the original listing by Dr John Paterson regarding the chief associated homoeopathic remedies of individual bowel nosodes and those obtained in this study therefore corroborating some of the original chief associated homoeopathic remedies. The newly found chief associated homoeopathic remedies of individual bowel nosodes resulting from this study may be given preference during case analysis and may be used to expand or update the original listing providing an expanded or updated guide for the homoeopathic practitioner.Item A group analysis of the mind symptoms of homoeopathic plant remedies from the Asteridae Subclass of plants in terms of known materia medica(2020-11-30) Gevers, Solveig; Wulfsohn, Terence; Maharaj, MadhuThere are thousands of proven homoeopathic remedies available for prescription by homoeopaths worldwide. With the ever-growing wealth of information on homoeopathic materia medica, there comes a need for systemization in order for homoeopaths to better understand and apply accurately, and effectively, the remedy indicated to patients seeking homoeopathic care. Over the past two decades, methods of systemization, collectively referred to as “group analysis”, have been developed by the likes of Sankaran (2005), Scholten (1993) and Mangialavori (2010) in attempt to gain greater insight into the vast bank of remedies now available, their relationships to each other and how they can be applied in homoeopathic practice. The intention of group analysis is to study the symptoms, sensations and pathological affinities that are common within a group of remedies. This study, a non-empirical, theoretical homoeopathic group analysis, investigated the mind symptoms of seven purposively selected remedies from seven Orders within the Subclass Asteridae. The data was collected and systematically organised into synonymous categories and then translated into common mind symptoms based directly on the concepts that arose. The results were compared to that of Yakir (2017) in her work Wondrous Order, which unites developmental psychology, botany and homoeopathic materia medica into a Systematic Table of Homeopathic Plant Remedies. The system of classification developed by Cronquist in the 1980’s, based on evolutionary taxonomy, was applied due to the schematic approach of ordering plants based on morphological characteristics which relates to the homoeopathic ‘signs and symptoms’ of function and sensation in the plant kingdom (Yakir, 2017) and to allow for a fair comparison to that of Yakir who applied the same system in Wondrous Order. The representative remedies were selected through a quantitative method using MacRepertory computer software, and elected based on the highest number of mind rubrics represented by a remedy from seven Orders within the Subclass. The following seven remedies were chosen for the study: (Subclass – Order – Family – Species) 1. Asteridae – Lamiales – Verbenaceae – Agnus castus (agn.) 2. Asteridae – Polemoniales – Solanaceae – Atropa belladonna (bell.) 3. Asteridae – Asterales – Asteraceae – Chamomilla vulgaris (cham.) 4. Asteridae – Rubiales – Rubiaceae – China officinalis (chin.) 5. Asteridae – Scrophulariales – Scrophulariaceae – Digitalis purpurea (dig.) 6. Asteridae – Gentianales – Loganiaceae – Nux vomica (nux-v.) 7. Asteridae – Dipsacales – Valerianaceae – Valeriana officinalis (valer.) A computer repertory search was then conducted using MacRepertory Professional (Synergy Homeopathics, 2018), isolating rubrics from the mind section of the Complete Repertory 2017 (Van Zandvoort, 2018) containing a minimum of 3 of the selected representative remedies and a total of 50 or less remedies. The resultant rubrics were tabulated in ascending order in terms of the number of remedies within each rubric, and then grouped according to common threads in the mind rubrics and the associated symptoms. The rubrics were visually analysed, compared and contrasted to determine the governing mind themes of the Asteridae Subclass. A comparison was drawn between the common mental themes identified from the results of the study and the basic themes of the Asteridae as put forward by Yakir (2017). An overall sense of mental “instability” was observed by the researcher from the highlighted concepts and common mind symptoms that arose in the study. One of the first mind themes identified in the study was that of over-sensitivity which parallels with how Sankaran (2017) describes the basic theme of the Plant Kingdom as “the basic issue of plant families is sensitivity and reactivity. In the human being, the Plant experience is that of sensitivity. They are affected by many things and must adapt and adjust to them. The plant individual gets easily affected and describes that as something is happening within him”. The concept of delirium, both hyperactive (insanity, madness, mania) and hypoactive (prostration, stupefaction and dullness of mind) was found to have the highest number of supporting rubrics. A theoretic progression was hypothesized by the researcher showing a development of mental instability in the group of Asteridae remedies. Beginning with the concept of sensitivity (a plant attribute as described above) which filters into the thematic states of anger (irritable, rageful, and violent quality), excessiveness (excitable, debaucherous and chaotic quality), sadness (a melancholic, morose, and depressive quality), and anxiety (fearful, restless and anxious quality), and finally developing into a state of delirium which presented either as hyperactive delirium (insanity, madness and mania) or hypoactive delirium (confusion, prostration of the mind and stupefaction). Some opposing concepts of the common mind symptoms arose: insensitivity (opposed to sensitivity); joy (opposed to sadness); and lack (opposed to excess). Opposing concepts did not arise relating to anxiety or anger. The final thematic tendency found by the researcher was the desire to escape, for an end or a death. This concept was theorised to be the ending result of the progression. The purpose of the study is to determine the common mental themes of the Subclass Asteridae and draw a comparison to confirm and/or expand on what Yakir has put forward. The group analysis study, although broad, provides a bridge between kingdom and family group analyses, providing clarity to certain highways, byways and alternate routes for practitioners navigating the complex map of homoeopathic remedies currently available. It is proposed that the resulting themes will better aid in the homoeopathic understanding of plant remedies from the subclass Asteridae. The researcher proposes that the resulting information will contribute positively to creating more structure to the body of homoeopathic plant remedies allowing for greater understanding, application and prescription of plant remedies.Item The relationship between the natural history of the Papaveraceae family of plants and the homoeopathic symptomatology of existing remedies of the Papaveraceae family(2018-12-10) Mngadi, Samkelisiwe Nonduduzo; Wulfsohn, Terence 'Benzev'; Couchman, IngridDuring Samuel Hahnemann’s time, it was possibly simpler for homoeopaths to prescribe, as there were fewer remedies. Nowadays, there are thousands of remedies available to homoeopaths and the materia medica is continually increasing due to the increase in provings and homoeopathic research globally. As new remedies are being discovered annually, the abundance of homoeopathic data increases. While this is advantageous in many ways, some homoeopaths are concerned that the essence of some homoeopathic remedies is being lost. They also stress that the excess of data makes finding a similimum challenging. The extent of homoeopathic data has led to the establishment of various methods of simplifying the prescribing process. Miasmatic theory, the doctrine of signatures, kingdom analysis and homoeopathic repertory are some of the methods developed to try to comprehend the materia medica. Group analysis or kingdom analysis method is a relatively new method of classifying homoeopathic remedies. The group analysis method links similar remedies in terms of their botanical and natural history. It then analyses common characteristics from these remedies, thus forming a generalised picture of the whole group or kingdom. The aim is to form a broad understanding of all the remedies within the group by carefully studying the common characteristics found throughout the whole group. The group analysis method therefore highlights the polycrest remedies and subsequently illuminates the lesser-known remedies thus forming a complete picture of the group. This study is a non-empirical correlation study of the Papaveraceae plant family’s natural history and homoeopathic symptomatology of selected remedies belonging to the Papaveraceae family. This study is aimed at establishing the commonalities of natural history between selected individual remedies belonging to Papaveraceae and their mental, physical and general symptoms. It is also aimed at establishing the collective commonalities that exist between the natural history of the Papaveraceae family and the mental, physical and general symptoms of the whole Papaveraceae family. Homoeopathic software in the form of RadarOpus version 1.38 was used to select five sample remedies from the Papaveraceae family. The five plant remedies from the Papaveraceae family that had the most rubrics were chosen as the sample group. The Papaveraceae family has alkaloid remedies such as codeinum and morphinum but such remedies were excluded from the study because the researcher wanted to include whole plant remedies for a fair comparison of their natural history. The study used qualitative thematic analysis to establish common themes that exist between the natural histories of each of the sample remedies and their homoeopathic symptomatology (the mental, physical and general symptoms) found in the materia medica. Plant habitat and distribution, description, active principles (primary alkaloids), uses, physiological action, historical significance, mythology and toxicology were used to describe the natural history of individual sample remedies. The keywords taken from the natural history were subjected to thesaurus consultation in order to find synonyms relating to the homoeopathic symptomatology. RadarOpus was used to find rubrics and sub-rubrics which contain keywords and synonyms of individual sample remedies. The common themes relating to individual remedies were further tabulated and subsequently collective themes were established and further analysed. Common themes found between the natural history and homoeopathic symptomatology included “violent” found in Chelidonium majus, “excitement” found in Opium, “vomiting” found in Sanguinaria canadensis, “pain” found in Fumaria officinalis and “condylomata” found in Corydalis furmosa. Common themes found in all Papaveraceae family include “aggressive”, “pain” and “nausea”. The results of the study established that there is a relationship between the natural history of the Papaveraceae family and the homoeopathic symptomatology of existing remedies of the Papaveraceae family.Item A group analysis evaluation of the selected psychoactive plant remedies in terms of known materia medica(2016) Hull, Ruth Heather; Harris, Corné M.; Maharaj, MadhueshwareeThere are now several thousand remedies available to a homoeopath and this number is continually increasing with the increase in homoeopathic research and provings. This growing wealth of data does, however, make choosing a homoeopathic remedy difficult and some homoeopaths argue that the essence of homoeopathic remedies are being lost in this excess of data. In an attempt to more accurately see a remedy’s ‘picture’ and gain deeper insight into remedies, Scholten (1993), Sankaran (2005a) and Mangialavori (2010) developed different methods which can now be collectively referred to as “group analysis”. The aim of group analysis is to find symptoms, sensations and pathological tendencies that are common to all remedies within a group. This study involved applying Sankaran’s group analysis approach to the psychoactive plant drug remedies with the rationale of filtering and organizing the mass of data we now have available on this group. This will enable both students and professionals of homoeopathy to develop a deeper understanding, and hence greater utilization, of the psychoactive plant drug remedies. The following five homoeopathic remedies were chosen for this study on the grounds that they have all been extensively proved through both homoeopathic provings and cured clinical cases and there is a vast amount of literature available on these remedies in materia medica and repertories: • Anhalonium lewinii (Cactaceae family) • Cannabis indica (Hamamalidae family) • Coffea cruda (Rubiaceae family) • Nux moschata (Magnolianae family) • Opium (Papaveraceae family) A computer repertory search was conducted using RadarOpus (Archibel, 2014) to extract all rubrics containing the selected remedies. Parameters were set to retain only rubrics that have less than 50 remedies and at least two of the selected psychoactive plant remedies in them. This was to ensure that only well-defined, characteristic remedies were looked at. The rubrics were visually analyzed, compared and contrasted to determine the common sensations within them and mental, general and particular symptoms were analyzed in terms of Sankaran’s model of Vital Sensation (2005a). The vital sensation of the psychoactive plant drug remedies was found to be that of horror, fear or fright. All the remedies belonging to this group experience the sensation of horror either through their perception of pain or through dreams, visions, hallucinations or anxiety. This sensation pervades all these remedies which are constantly trying to escape this sensation by either increasing or decreasing their activity and sensitivity. The active reaction to the sensation of horror is to increase activity. This is expressed through increased sensitivity; mental clarity; sensations of contraction, fullness, heaviness, heat or moisture; delirium, hallucinations and instability. The passive reaction to the sensation of horror is to decrease activity. This is expressed through insensitivity; lack of mental clarity; sensations of expansion, emptiness, lightness, cold or dryness; sleep, stupor and unconsciousness. The compensation, or coping mechanism that psychoactive plant drug remedies develop, is a transcendence of their condition: they transcend, or escape, their condition by no longer feeling or doing anything, by becoming numb and insensitive. The researcher suggests that although the remedies of the psychoactive plant drug group can be classified according to different miasms, the over-riding miasm of this group is the sycotic miasm with its fundamental sense of having a ‘fixed weakness’ within themselves. The researcher also proposes that the psychoactive plant remedies have an affinity for the central nervous system and for ailments caused by strong emotions such as joy, anger, excitement, fear or fright. These remedies tend to produce pathologies of the central nervous system and sleep including increased reflexes, involuntary motions, trembling, jerking; weakness, atrophy, slowness, paralysis; unconsciousness; catalepsy; Autism Spectrum Disorders; hypersensitivity; insensitivity or absence of sensitivity; pain; formication; mental confusion, poor comprehension, nonsensical speech; memory disorders; delirium, hallucinations, schizophrenia; mood disorders; behavioural disorders; anxiety; insomnia, narcolepsy and nightmares. The researcher found group analysis to be a powerful methodology that, if employed correctly, can aid homoeopaths to learn and understand remedies in their ‘totality’.Item A group analysis evaluation of the selected members of the acidum family of homoeopathic remedies in terms of known materia medica(2015) Phahamane, Edward Peter; Steele, Richard; Maharaj, MadhueshwareeHomoeopathy has advanced as an empirical art and has become a modern age science backed by the kind of massive research data and critical reviews that helps scientific knowledge become acceptable within the global knowledge space. Two centuries ago, the practice of homoeopathy was possible with a few hundred proven remedies of that time but as this science developed through both research and collection of empirical data the number of remedies available increased exponentially. As both the study of remedies and the remedy selection process became more challenging, group analysis by famous homoeopaths such as Farrington (1992), Sankaran (2003), Scholten (1993), Mangliavori (in Vidal 2005) emerged. Currently, with a database of over 3000 remedies available for prescription, group analysis, though a contested approach has proven to be an adequate tool that helps consolidate mass homoeopathic data into meaningful groupings that makes both the study of remedies and their application in practice easier. Classifying homoeopathic remedies into groups by means of group analysis and allowing such methods and results thereof to go through rigorous critiquing refines homoeopathic knowledge and improves its ability to sustain itself as a competent science. Homoeopathy has emerged as a technologically inclined science, utilising various software programs enabling more thorough correlation of symptoms and remedies and so improving the prescription process. Software programs have proven to be very useful tools for the development of group analysis. The aim of this study was to extract the common characteristic symptomatology of five selected homoeopathic remedies belonging to the acidum family as represented in the known materia medica and repertory. The acidum remedies appearing in Radar® 10 repertory (Archibel 2008) were analysed in terms of rubric representation (frequency) and the top five were selected for inclusion in the study. The top five remedies were: Nitricum acidum, Phosphoricum acidum, Muriatic acidum, Sulphuricum acidum and Fluoricum acidum. All rubrics in which the selected remedies appeared were extracted using the homoeopathic software package Radar® 10 (Archibel, 2008) and analysed for sensations and active, passive and compensation reactions of the selected remedies, as per Sankaran (2002). The common primary sensations identified were, burning, sore, swelling, pressing, cramping, dryness, weakness, tearing, and coldness. There were also sensations of anxiety, restlessness, delirium, delusions, dullness, sadness and cheerfulness. Active reactions identified were: hot, heat, inflammation and sensitivity. Passive reactions identified were: coldness, numbness and weakness. Compensation reactions identified were: restlessness, hurriedness, intense reaction and passion. Miasmatic keywords as per Sankaran (2002) were used to determine the miasmatic tendencies of the selected top five acidum remedies. In general all acidum remedies appeared to have a dominant syphilitic miasmatic tendency but acidums were present through all the miasms. Their miasmatic tendencies are easily recognised when viewed in the light of their pathophysiological processes. The pathological tendencies of acidum remedies examined in this study include: haemorrhoids, general haemorrhage, syphilis, warts, neoplastic and non-plastic tumours, irritable bowel syndrome (reflux, colic, constipation), rheumatism, muco-cutaneous ulcerations (STIs, Xerostomia, diabetic ulcers) and bone diseases (osteoporosis, osteitis, and peri-osteitis). The results of this research were compared to the findings of Scholten (1993) and Mangialavori and Marotta (2005). It is the researcher’s view that Sankaran’s methodology of group analysis which he used to explore biological groups of remedies (plants and animals) is adequate for use with non-biological groups of remedies such as mineral acidums. The researcher found group analysis methodology worthy as a tool for classifying the mass data of acidum remedies into orderly sets of meaningful data. Group analysis is consistent with the laws and principles of homoeopathy and encourages the use of materia medica and repertory which are fundamental to the study and application of homoeopathic knowledge.Item A group analysis evaluation of selected synthetic recreational drug isolate remedies in terms of known materia medica(2013-10-31) Chhiba, Ujaswee; Maharaj, Madhueshwaree; Somaru, NevornduttThe addition of a large number of new remedies to the homoeopathic materia medica has made it challenging to select the correct remedy for a patient. Locating individual remedies within groups makes it easier to understand, remember and apply the information from the remedies. The aim of this research study was to evaluate common themes and symptomatology of homoeopathic remedies belonging to the synthetic recreational drug isolate group, as represented in the known homoeopathic materia medica and repertory. Most remedies derived from synthetic recreational drug isolate sources have not been well documented or comprehensively proven in homoeopathy, so are not well represented in repertory programs. Therefore, in addition, remedies in this study were selected according to the homoeopathic significance of each remedy, the availability of actual provings and representation in materia medica, the existence of a synthetic derivative of the drug, and if the drug was commonly used. The selected remedies were then subjected to a manual rubric extraction process in which common rubrics were extracted. The common rubrics were analyzed to determine common sensations within the group. The extracted sensations were then defined using a dictionary and synonyms were determined using a thesaurus. Each sensation was subjected to a literature search to test its validity. Second and third order analyses were performed based on the results. The most common sensations found as a result of this process were: dryness, itching, fear, anger, restlessness, anxiety, indifference, heaviness, heat, acute and weakness. The active and passive reactions and compensations of the synthetic recreational drug isolate group were also analyzed. The active reactions included anger, rage, acute, violence, impatience and irritation. Passive reactions were heaviness, numbness, dullness, faintness, weakness and coldness. The compensatory reaction included sensations of ecstasy, elation and euphoria or tranquillity. Each remedy was classified into specific miasms based on Sankaran’s miasmatic model (Sankaran, 1997). Each remedy was categorized as a particular miasm if the literature showed a clear predominance of the themes associated with that miasm. Many of the remedies had features of the AIDS, Cancer, Sycotic and Tubercular miasms. Pathological tendencies of the synthetic recreational drug isolate group involved the throat, eyes, stomach, nervous system, male genitalia and sleep patterns. Clinically, the remedies can be used in cases of mental disorders such as psychosis and schizophrenia, chronic fatigue, visual and sleeping disorders, anorexia nervosa and neurological disorders such as chorea, tremors and formication. The results of this study appear to confirm the application of the group analysis methodology as outlined by Sankaran (2002). The results also add depth to the existing literature on synthetic recreational drug isolate remedies.Item The knowledge, perception and utilisation of vitamin and mineral supplements, natural medicines and pharmacological agents as adjuncts to chiropractic practice in South Africa(2009) De Gouveia, Natalie; Wilson, Laura MaieBackground: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, perception and utilisation of vitamins and minerals, natural medicines and pharmacological agents as adjuncts to Chiropractic practice in South Africa. Method: This study was a population based cross sectional survey utilising a descriptive, quantitative questionnaire study design. The questionnaire was distributed to all practicing qualified Chiropractors (n=388) and masters Chiropractic students (n=102) in South Africa. Results: The results obtained (30.4% response rate), indicated that the majority of the respondents (62.8%) felt qualified to advise patients on vitamins and mineral supplements and had a positive view of the use of vitamins and minerals as part of Chiropractic patient management (86.6%). The majority of the practitioners were aware that topical substances are part of the scope of practice and males were nearly twice as likely as females to use them. The majority thought biopuncture should be available to Chiropractors (82%) and felt that Chiropractors should challenge the legislation to incorporate biopuncture as part of the scope of practice (77.5%). Most respondents agreed with the statement indicating that NSAIDS should be part of Chiropractic scope of practice and 71% of respondents felt that being able to use NSAIDS in non-emergency situations would enhance patient retention. This study revealed that amongst the student population the majority, if allowed, would consider administering pharmacological agents in practice (55.1%). Conclusion: A correlation exists between the perception, knowledge and utilisation of vitamins and minerals, natural medicines and pharmacological agents in the Chiropractic profession with respect to the demographic data and there is a significant difference in opinion between qualified Chiropractors and Chiropractic masters students regarding perception, knowledge and utilisation of these adjuncts to practice.