M.Tech. / The most susceptible and vulnerable segment of society to HIV/AIDS infection is the population sector aged between twenty and forty years old. This threatens to impact negatively on South Africa’s economic, social and human development (Whiteside and Sunter, 2001). The aim of this descriptive pilot study is to elicit a homoeopathic symptom picture of HIV positive Black females living in Gauteng, and also to compare this symptom picture to existing HIV proving pictures. Ten HIV positive Black females living in Gauteng were interviewed from a homoeopathic perspective. The participants were aged between twenty-two and forty years, and were in the asymptomatic carrier phase or the AIDS related complex (ARC) phase of HIV infection. None of the participants were receiving antiretroviral treatment. The researcher utilized a set questionnaire to conduct the interviews with. Each interview was compared to one another to determine the common themes and trends emerging from the case histories. These common features were utilized to produce a unique homoeopathic symptom picture of HIV infection in Black females. This symptom picture was compared to the existing HIV proving pictures of Stallick’s and Norland’s AIDS nosodes and Chappell’s PC1. The symptom picture was repertorised using the Cara Pro computerized repertory programme to determine possible constitutional and genus epidemicus treatment options for HIV infection as well as to evaluate the miasmatic presentation of HIV. This study indicates that the HIV proving pictures of the AIDS nosodes and PC1 closely match the unique homoeopathic symptom picture derived from this study. Possible genus epidemicus treatment options include Iodium and PC1. A wide variety of constitutional prescription options materialized from this research. This study also supports the idea that HIV/AIDS is a miasm in its own right, and is represented by aspects of the psoric, sycotic, syphilitic, tuburculinic and cancer miasms. This work is dedicated to the memory of Bongi, a fun-loving, sincere and courageous woman, and to all the HIV/AIDS sufferers in South Africa. / Dr. J. Roohani Dr. K.S Peck Dr. T.A Blake

M.Tech. / The worldwide dissemination of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) over the past four decades has entered our consciousness as one of the most catastrophic examples of the emergence, transmission and propagation of a virus (Department of Health, 2000; Stebbing et al., 2004). Globally, an estimated 40.3 million people are living with the virus. In 2005 alone, the World Health Organisation estimated that there were close to five million new HIV infections worldwide (UNAIDS/WHO, 2005). Southern Africa is experiencing an HIV/AIDS epidemic of shattering dimensions and, unfortunately, shows little evidence of possible future declines in HIV prevalence. It remains by far the worst-affected region, with 25.8 million people infected at the end of 2005. Of these infected, only one in ten Africans were receiving anti-retroviral treatment (ART) in mid-2005 (Dorrington et al., 2001; UNAIDS/WHO, 2005). Since South Africa carries the biggest global burden of HIV, it is difficult to provide and sustain treatment for all individuals infected with HIV (Department of Health, 2004b). Previous research on the efficacy of homoeopathic treatment in HIV has been done by Brewitt et al (1999) and Da Silva et al (2005) with beneficial results. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of homoeopathic growth factors (HoGF’s) on CD4 cell count, measurements such as weight and body mass index (BMI), symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS, and quality of life of participants living with HIV. The research was conducted on a sample of twenty five participants (n=25) drawn from a population of persons from eighteen to sixty years of age. Twenty two participants (n=22) completed the research. Participants were recruited from the Inkanyezi ARV Clinic, situated in an informal settlement in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, South Africa. The recruited participants were requested to read and sign the Participant Information and Consent form (Appendix A) providing them with the necessary information regarding the research. The duration of the clinical trial was thirteen weeks. Analysis of CD4 cell count, measurements of weight and body mass index (BMI) and symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS were conducted at day 1, week 5, week 9 and week 13. A quality of life questionnaire was conducted and analysed at day 1 and week 13. The HoGF medication was administered to each participant, who received sufficient medication until the next follow up consultation. This allowed the researcher to monitor patient compliance. One tablet was given three times a day, for a thirteen-week period. The participants were instructed to suck or chew the pleasant tasting, white tablet. The statistical models such as the repeated measures ANOVA analysis test, the non-parametric Wilcoxon test and the McNemar test were used to statistically analyse the data. The resultant analyses of the data have provided the following conclusions. HoGF treatment did not improve overall immune function of the participants, as there was a decrease in the average CD4 cell count of the HIV infected adults over the 13 week period. HoGF was effective in increasing immune functionality of the major symptomatic group but did not show improved immune functionality in the asymptomatic or minor symptomatic groups. There was, however, an overall decrease in the occurrence of the common symptoms of HIV seen in the entire sample group and HoGF intervention stabilised weight and BMI over the trial period. HoGF treatment also demonstrated an improvement in the quality of life of the participants. There were no reported signs of adverse side effects while on HoGF treatment. The results of this study are expected to initiate further research in the area of homoeopathy and HIV/AIDS. It is recommended that future studies include a control group with placebo for inter-group comparisons. This HoGF treatment can therefore be seen as a possible complementary treatment option for treating the common symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS in the absence of ART, and maintaining wellness in HIV patients. / Dr. R. Razlog Dr. M. Da Silva

M. Tech. / Since year zero of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, homosexuality has been linked to HIV/AIDS (Hooper; 2000). HIV positive homosexual individuals, therefore, are exposed to double stigmatisation; that of being homosexual and of being infected with HIV/AIDS. Taking into account the link between psyche, neural and immunological function, the above statement directly impacts the pathophysiology and prognosis of HIV/AIDS (Forrest and Kanbus; 2004) (De Kooker; 2002). This study examines the psychological and emotional states of the subjects, which are influenced, not only by their disease state but also by social stigmatisation. The aim of the study is to obtain a comprehensive homoeopathic symptom picture of HIV positive homosexual males within a South African context, compare this to existing homoeopathic symptom pictures, discuss HIV/AIDS in terms of miasmatic theory and consider possible homoeopathic treatment options for HIV/AIDS. This is a qualitative pilot study. Fourteen HIV positive homosexual males, of varying race, were recruited through Caritas Care and interviewed in Gauteng. The participants were between the ages of twenty and fifty and in stage one to three of HIV infection. Six of the participants were on antiretroviral therapy, eight not. The participants were interviewed using set questionnaires and underwent a physical examination. The interview transcripts were analysed and compared to each other then commonalities extracted to obtain a composite symptom picture. The composite symptom picture was compared to existing genus epidemicus symptom pictures and existing nosode proving pictures. The composite symptom picture was analysed using Cara Pro computerized repertorisation to determine possible treatment options. This computer programme affords the user access to multiple repertories simultaneously for rubric selection, and then analyses the case allowing for the use of different strategies. The composite symptom picture was also analysed in terms of miasmatic characteristics. The study concludes that the composite symptom picture partially matches existing HIV/AIDS genus epidemicus symptom pictures and nosode proving pictures. The composite symptom picture exhibits prominent themes of mental and emotional restlessness, generalized weakness, rebelliousness, desire for control and a desire for warmth. Possible treatment options are indicated. The include the remedies Sepia, Apis mellifica, Bryonia alba, Iodium and Natrum carbonicum but particularly of the Flouratum mineral group remedies such as Calcarea fluorica and Acidum flouricum. The study indicates that HIV/AIDS is emerging as a new miasm exhibiting characteristics of the Sycotic and Tuberculinic miasms. / Dr. L. Solomon Dr. T. Blake