Faculty of Health Sciences
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Item A placebo-controlled in-vivo study of the effect of four musical imponderabilia on the growth of Calendula officinalis plants(2021-12-01) Fourie, Philippus Jacobus; Ross, Ashley H. A.; Matimati, IgnatiousThis study is based on the creation of 4 new musical imponderabilia remedies: Jazz 30 CH, Rock 30 CH, Pop 30 CH and Classical 30 CH, and seeks to demonstrate whether such imponderabilia remedies are able to induce biological changes as an indicator of potential future utility in a human homeopathic pathogenetic trial. The study was conducted on 50 Calendula officinalis plants, randomly divided into 5 groups of 10 plants each. In group 2 plants respectively received one of 5 ‘remedies’, viz. Jazz 30 CH , Rock 30 CH remedy, Pop 30 CH remedy, Classical 30 CH remedy and an indistinguishable placebo of spring water. Prior to administration of the allocated remedy, we had 1 week of stabilising the plants were afforded a one-week period of stabilisation, followed by a 6 week administration phase. The remedies were prepared by placing a container of spring water in front of a speaker. through which a compilation of the respective genre of music was played for 19 hours and 30 minutes. The container of spring water thus exposed was identified as the respective ‘mother tincture’, which was subsequently converted to a 30 CH homeopathic potency. The administration potency contained only 1% alcohol. The 50 Calendula officinalis plants received 50 ml of spring water every second day in the stabilisation week, after which each plant received their specific remedy or placebo on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for a period of 6 weeks. 50 ml of the respective ‘remedy’ or placebo was administered to each plant. Objective measures of growth were taken each week. The measures of growth employed in this study included: the stem length, stem diameter and leaf number. The plants were measured once planted, at the end of the stabilisation week (week 0), and at the end of each of the 6 weeks of administration. The results were analysed with The R Project for Statistical Computing to determine the Analysis of variance. A comparison of growth metrics was conducted to determine the influence of the respective remedy on growth of Calendula officinalis plants.Item The efficacy of Calendula officinalis tincture as an antibacterial on in vitro Pseudomonas aeruginosa(2002) Mabuza, Mbuso; Ross, Ashley Hilton Adrian; Sturm, A. W.The aim of this in vitro microbial study was to evaluate the efficacy of Calendula officinalis tincture 60% (v/v) ethanol as an antibacterial on in vitro Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The standardised disc - diffusion method was employed. Seven pairs of Mueller - Hinton agar plates were used.Item The relative and combined efficacy of the homoeopathic similimum (taken orally) and the topical application of a lotion (prepared from the homoeopathic mother tinctures of Hypericum perforatum and Calendula officinalis) in the treatment of venous leg ulcers(2006) Hoffmann, Delia; Couchman, IngridThe purpose of this double-blind placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the relative and combined efficacy of the homoeopathic similimum, taken orally, and the topical application of a lotion made from the homoeopathic mother tinctures of Hypericum perforatum and Calendula officinalis in the treatment of venous leg ulcers. Venous hypertension in the lower limb, occurring from a variety of causes, leads to microcirculatory abnormalities which may permit the formation of a chronic ulcer (Zimmet, 1998). Venous leg ulcers are a cause of much debility, social isolation, depression, fears of loss of employment and income (Royal College of Nursing Institute, 1998). The mainstay of treatment at present is compression bandaging to reduce the venous pressure in the lower limb. Eighty percent of venous leg ulcers will heal within eight to twelve weeks with compression bandaging (Thomas, 1997). Homoeopathy is a system of medicine based on natural laws of healing, and recognizes the biophysical energy of an individual (also known as the vital force) as that which provides the normal protective defence mechanisms of the body, and is disturbed in disease, producing symptoms on the physical, mental and emotional levels (Vithoulkas, 1980). Many plants are known to have wound-healing properties (Curtis and Fraser, 2003). Calendula officinalis and Hypericum perforatum were considered the best plants in a homoeopathic lotion to be used on chronic venous leg ulcers, as they cover all the common problems associated with this type of wound, providing pain relief and anti-microbial activity (Lawless, 1995). In this study, homoeopathic mother tinctures of the herbs were used to make the lotion for topical application to the wounds.