Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology, Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 1996. / The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of homoeopathic simillimum treatment in menorrhagia, with reference to the patient's perception to the treatment as well as the amount and duration of uterine bleeding in order to determine the role of homoeopathic simillimum treatment in menorrhagia. Thirty patients were selected by convenience sampling from the greater Durban area in response to various advertisements. The patients were selected according to certain criteria including the confirmation of the diagnosis and exclusion of organic pelvic disease, infections and any complications of pregnancy as the cause of the heavy uterine bleeding by a registered gynaecologist. Once the patient was accepted as part of the study and a consent form signed, a complete homoeopathic case history and physical examination was done by the researcher. The patient then completed the first questionnaire with the researcher during the initial consultation so as to establish a baseline before treatment commenced. A menstrual chart/calender was given to the patient to record the duration and pattern of the menstrual cycle. The patient completed a new questionnaire at each follow-up for a period of three months. The study followed a double-blind protocol with a neutral member randomly dividing the sample into a control and treatment group by using a table of random numbers. The control group received placebo treatment. The patient was reassessed monthly and the questionnaire was collected by the researcher. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 1998. / The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of homoeopathic medicine treatments on Lactuca sativa (lettuce) seed germination. It was hypothesized that Sulphur, Nitric acid and Camphor treatments would effect seed germination and that a combination of the formative two treatments individually combined with Camphor at the same potency levels would have an antidotal effect when compared to the original outcome. Four experiments were conducted: Experiment 1 - Germinability trial utilizing high germinability Commander cultivar seed (96% germinability) involving the application of four homoeopathic treatments (Sulphur, Nitric acid, Sulphur/Camphor, Nitric acid/Camphor) at thirty different potency levels (3CH~32CH) and a Control. Experiment 2 - Germinability trial utilizing 0% germinability Commander cultivar seed involving application of four homoeopathic treatments (Sulphur, Nitric acid, Sulphur/Camphor, and Nitric acid/Camphor) at four different potency levels (3CH, 9CH, 15CH & 30CH) and a Control. Experiment 3 - Germinability trial utilizing three different cultivars (Greenfield, Great Lakes and Grand Rapids) involving application of five homoeopathic treatments (Sulphur, Nitric acid, Sulphur/Camphor, Nitric acid/Camphor and Camphor) at four different potency levels (3CH, 9CH, 15CH & 30CH). Experiment 4 - Germinability trial utilizing four different cultivars (Commander, Greenfield, Great Lakes and Grand Rapids) involving one homoeopathic treatment (Camphor 3CH) under four different light and temperature conditions (light @ 15\xB0C; light @ 29\xB0C; dark @ 15\xB0C and dark @ 29\xB0C). The investigation supported the above hypotheses with clear measurable and statistically significant differences being noted for Sulphur, Nitric acid and Camphor on lettuce seed germination. Camphor showed consistently faster germ inability when compared to other treatments independent of cultivar type. Combined treatments of Sulphur/Camphor and Nitric acid/Camphor (in & / M

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon NataI, 1996. / Delayed onset muscle stiffness (DOMS), a condition characterised by pain and muscle sti:tfuess, as a result of intense or unaccustomed exercise. The effectiveness of the homoeopathic broad spectrum anti-inflammatory, Traumeel S, in the treatment ofDOMS, acquired after a marathon run, was determined. An experimental single variable design before-and-after with control was used. Thirty males between the ages of 20 and 40 years, with previous running experience, were drawn from marathon nmners in the Durban and Johannesburg area. They were randomly assigned to either a placebo or treatment group. An intramuscular injection was administered into the hamstring muscle before and after the race. The placebo group was injected with a 0.9% saline solution, while the treatment group was injected with Traumeel S. Before and after completion of a 42.2 km marathon run the following parameters were measured: creatine kinase blood levels, the strength and power output of muscles, values of static jump, flexibility and pain and soreness perception. The data was analysed using Statgraphics plus version 6.0 incorporating the Wilcoxin Signed Rank Test for determining the statistical significance within the treatment and placebo group and the Mann-Whitney U-Test for determining statistical significance between the two groups. No significance difference was observed in the rate of recovery from DOMS of both treatment and placebo groups / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Diploma in Technology in the Department of Homeopathy at Technikon Natal, 1995. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Thuja occidentalis tincture and Thuja occidental is tablets in the treatment of warts. The study design was double-blind, a sample group of thirty patients was selected, and then randomised into two groups by an independent pharmacist. The first group of fifteen patients were administered Thuja occidentalis 9CH tablets, which were taken twice daily.The second group of fifteen patients were administered Thuja occidentalis 9CH tablets, which were taken twice daily as well as Thuja occidental is tincture, which was applied twice daily to the warts. On initial consultation, a colour photograph of the wart was taken. Every three weeks thereafter a questionnaire was completed by the patients on their perception of the treatment and colour photographs were again taken to evaluate whether, changes in the surface areas had occurred. The surface areas of the warts, as seen on the colour photographs, were measured using a scanner. The trial was conducted over a three month period. In order to investigate the correlation between treatment and clinical manifestations of the warts, the two groups were compared using the paired T test.The tablet group (p=O.008) and the tablet and tincture group (p=O.022), indicating there is no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The unpaired T test (p=O.078), also showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homeopathy, Technikon Natal, 1996. / The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of Mineral Therapy in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADDH) , with regard to inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity, in order to demonstrate Mineral Therapy as an alternati ve to cerebral stimulants, such as Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (Ritalin). rt was hypothesized that the Mineral Therapy would result in a substantial improvement in all aspects of ADDH, and could consequently be used as an alternati ve treatment in a number of cases. The study was a clinical trial, in which a placebo control group was compared with two experimental groups. The study was undertaken over a period of two years. Sixty attention deficit children with hyperactivity attending Livingstone Primary School were analyzed. The children involved in the study already taking Ritalin, administered and monitored by their physicians, were randomly divided, by the participating pharmacist, into two groups: one receiving placebo and Ritalin (n = 20); the other Mineral Therapy and Ritalin (n = 20). The balance of the children, who were not taking Ritalin, was given Mineral Therapy only (n = 20). Each of the subjects was treated and observed over a period of four months for the purpose of this study. Prior to and on completion of the four-month course of Mineral Therapy each subject completed two assessment tests, namely the Children's Checking Task and the Feuerstein Test. Additionally, / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 1997. / The purpose ofthis study was to evaluate the efficacy of a homoeopathic halitosis complex in the treatment of patients with oral malodour, in terms of measuring the extent of change in mouth air both subjectively and objectively. The expected result was a progressive lowering of volatile sulphides in mouth air Convenience sampling was employed to draw 30 patients from dental practices and general public in the greater Durban area. Only healthy persons who suffered from halitosis longer than three months were selected. Of these, one half constituted the control group and received only placebo, the remaining half made up the experimental group and were treated with the halitosis complex, containing Arnica montana 4CH, Mercurius solubilus 4CH, Antimonium crudum 4CH, Carbo vegetabilis 4CH. Arsenicum album 6CH, Bryonia alba 4CH, Nitric acidum 4CH. Patients were assessed by organoleptic measurement of malo dour from the whole 111 mouth over four consultations and this data was tabulated on a numerical rating scale and correlated with measurements recorded on a portable sulphide monitor pm. 700 series which measured in the actual breathing zone of individuals being monitored. The monitoring unit displayed data of an individual's exposure. This study demonstrated that the use of a homoeopathic halitosis complexled to a reduction in volatile sulfur compounds in mouth air and a significant improvement / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 2001. / The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high and ultra-high dilutions (ranging from 10-8to 10-400)of Abscisic acid (ABA) on the synthesis of a-amylase in barley seed endosperm halves (Hordeum vulgare Stirling, ex Caledon, Western Cape, South Africa, 1999 harvest), in order to determine whether these dilutions are able to produce biological effects, as homoeopathic theory would maintain they are (Gaier,1991:445-447). A further aim of this study was to evaluate the role of succussion in the preparation of homoeopathic medicines. Central to the preparation of homoeopathic medicines is the principle of potentisation, which is a method of dilution that is unique to homoeopathy. It involves serial dilution with intervening mechanical agitation, called succussion, between each dilution level (Kayne, 1997:49). At each progressive stage of dilution the concentration of the solute diminishes, often beyond the point at which Avogadro's dilution limit of 6.022 X 1023 marl is exceeded, so that theoretically no solute molecules remain in the solution (Gaier, 1991:47-48). Homoeopathic theory maintains that remedies thus prepared do not lose their therapeutic power in the process of dilution, but that due to the intervening succussion, their efficacy is in fact enhanced. Hence succussion is considered to be the process that sets homoeopathic dilutions apart from simple dilutions, Kayne (1997:49) states that, 'This agitation is vitally important to the therapeutic efficacy of the remedy; dilution alone is not sufficient to produce the phenomenon'. In order to evaluate the role of succussion this study utilised five centesimal serial dilutions; the 4th, 9th, is'. so' and 200t \ which represent deconcentrations ranging from 10-8to 10-400, which dilution levels also span Avogadro's dilution limit. One series was prepared by diluting the ABA with intervening succussion and the other series was prepared by diluting the ABA without intervening succussion. The effects of these two methods on the production of a-amylase were then compared. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 1998. / Two hundred and ten (210) commercially produced Hubbard x Peterson broiler chickens were randomly divided into 5 groups of 42 chickens when they were 14 days old. Each group was divided into two replications. Twoseparate rooms of a poultry house were used to house the chickens, and each room housed one replication of each group. Group 1was not vaccinated and acted as an indicator of extraneous Newcastle disease. Group 2,3, and 4 received 12C,30C and 200C potencies ef the antigenic component of the vaccine respectively. Hcmceopcthic remedies were administered in the drinking water from ,day 14 to day 42. Group 5 was the vaccinated control group and received alcohol in the same concentrations as the groups receiving treatment from day 14 to day 42. On day 14 the birds were vaccinated subcutaneously in the retronuchal area with 0.5ml of a killed oil emulsion vaccine. Haemagglutination Inhibition tests were performed to quantify the immuneresponse to the vaccine on blood samples taken from all the birds on days 14, 28 and 42. Three way factorial analyses with groups, rooms and days as factors was carried out USingproe GLM. The daily administration of homoeopathic dilutions of the antigenic component of the Newcastleibition / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 1997. / The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of Homoeopathic Simillimum treatment in Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers i.nterms of patient response to treatment. It was hypothesized that the homoeopathic simillimum treatment would result in a substantial improvement in all the clinical aspects of Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers, and that it could be used as an alternative to 'conventional' treatment in many cases. The study was a clinical trial, in which a placebo control group was compared with an experimental group. Convenience sampling was used to draw patients into the trial. Volunteers responded to advertisements that had been placed in various advertising media. A minimum of 30 participants was assessed and if they complied vvith the diagnostic- and Manning criteria they were accepted into the study. The participants were randomly divided into a double - blind study that lasted 3 months. During this period half of the patients received placebo treatment while the other half received homoeopathic simillimum treatment. Neither the researcher nor the participants knew what type of treatment they received until the end of the research. The participants that fell into the placebo group was given the opportunity after the study was over to be treated with homoeopathic simillimum treatment. All the data obtained hy the researcher through the questionnaires was interpreted by. / M

A dissertation in partial compliance with the Master's Diploma in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 1995. / The aim of this study was to establish the effect of cotrimoxazole prepared in conventional form , homoeopathic form and a mixture of both forms, on E. coli and S. aureus in terms of maximum specific growth rate, time taken to reach maximum specific growth rate, maximum cell population and metabolic activity for the purpose of evaluating the efficacy of cotrimoxazole when used in a homoeopathic form. Co-trimoxazole used conventionally, homoeopathically (9CH or 15CH) and a mixture containing the conventional and homoeopathic (9CH or 15CH) forms were compared. The growth of E. coli and aureus in the presence of these medications (added separately) was monitored. Enumeration of colony forming units was conducted at 0 i 6 i 12 i 24 and 48 hours , by the serial dilution - spread plate procedure. This was conducted in triplicate. Enzyme activity was used as an indicator of metabolic activity and was done at times 0 i 12 i 24 and 48 hours. The maximum specific growth rate (MSGR) , time taken to reach maximum specific growth rate were calculated and compared for the various preparations. Enzyme reactions were semiquantitively assessed. The conventional antibiotic decreased cell growth of both E. coli and S. aureus when compared to the control. Inhibition of coli growth was most pronounced after 6 hours and that of S.aureus after times 6 and 48 hours. The MSGR for E. coli showed / M