Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 2000. / The aim of this placebo-controlled study was to determine the effectiveness of a homoeopathic complex in impacted third molars in terms of the patients response to treatment. It was hypothesised that the homoeopathic treatment would result in substantial improvement in post operative implications of impacted third molars, and that it can be used as an alternative to analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment in many cases. Both the analgesics and anti-inflammatories utilised post-operatively in impacted third molar have a wide variety of side effects. Homoeopathic treatment on the other hand does not have side effects. It also has the added benefit of taking the medication pre-operatively as well as post-operatively. In so doing the body is prepared for the surgical intervention before it occurs and thus stimulates healing immediately, even as the surgical intervention is taking place. Where as the antiinflammatories and analgesics are traditionally only prescribed post-operatively and therefore can only take effect once the patient consumes the medication. 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 talks given by the researcher and after reading the patient information sheet. A minimum of 30 participants was assessed and if they complied with thee / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 2000. / This study investigated the effect of Olea europea subsp africana aqueous leaf extract (tincture), 6CH and placebo on mild to moderate hypertension, in order to determine whether any of these forms of Olea europea subsp africana are capable of producing a significant reduction in the systolic or diastolic blood pressures. Patients were screened for mild to moderate hypertension and diagnosed after three successive measurements on three different visits. Once the patients were selected and agreed to take part in the study, they were randomly divided into one of three groups. Group 1 received 6CH Olea europea subsp africana, Group 2 received placebo and Group 3 received the Olea europea subsp africana tincture. The patients were instructed to take twenty drops three times a day for the duration of the research. The patient's blood pressures were recorded every three to four weeks and at each visit three readings were taken and the mean of these three readings was used for analysis. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed no statistically significant difference between the three groups. The Friedman test however showed that all three groups had shown statistically significant improvement in the period of the research. The data was then analysed visually by means of bar charts using the mean levels of the systolic and diastolic readings of each visit. This showed that all the groups showed a decrease in mean blood pressure with Group 1 (6CH) having the greatest systolic drop of 11mmHg systolic and SmmHg diastolic. Group 3 (tincture) had the second largest drop of 9mmHg systolic and SmmHg diastolic where Group 2 (Placebo) showed the smallest drop with a 6mmHg drop in systolic and a 3mmHg drop in diastolic mean blood pressure. / M

A dissertation in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 2002. / The aim of this study was to establish the effect of Thymus vulgaris tincture prepared in 43% ethanol and 70% ethanol in comparison to 43% ethanol and 70% ethanol only upon Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, using a disc diffusion method, and to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MEC) of Thymus vulgaris tincture in respect of these bacteria. Mueller-Hinton agar plates were streaked with saline test cultures adjusted to the 0.5 McFarland Equivalence Turbidity Standard. Five sterile filter paper discs 5mm in diameter were placed on each plate. These filter paper discs were impregnated with 10111of the test or control substances using a micropipette. The plates were incubated at 3TC for 18 hours. The diameters of the zones of inhibition of the bacterial growth around the discs were measured. This data was used to look for inter-group change by means of the Mann- Whitney Test between the test and control subgroups in both group A and group B. The means and standard deviations of each of the groups were compared in order to look for possible trends if the p-value of each group was insignificant. Il Thymus vulgaris tincture in 43% ethanol produced significant inhibitory effects in comparison to the 43% ethanol control upon all the bacteria tested. Thymus vulgaris tincture in 70% ethanol produced significant inhibitory effects in comparison to the / 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 Eleutherococcus senticosus on the number of eggs, the weight of the eggs, the quality of the eggs (height of the albumin; colour of the egg yolk) laid, as well as the mortality of the hens fed Eleutherococcus senticosus for 28 days. It was hypothesized that Eleutherococcus senticosus would increase the number of eggs, the weight of the eggs, improve the quality of the eggs laid and decrease the mortality rate of the hens. The study design is a two by two experimental design. The 1440 egg laying hens, which all came from the same breeding farm, were housed by Golden Lay at Whitelodge. Seven hundred and twenty hens made up the treatment groups receiving Eleutherococcus senticosus. Seven hundred and twenty hens made up the placebo groups receiving normal water. In the first week no medication was given to the treatment group. In the second, third, fourth, fifth week 300 ml of E'leutherococcus senticosus was introduced daily into the drinking water of the treatment group. The eggs were collected, counted and weighed manually on a daily basis. Once a week 72 eggs were collected randomly for quality testing ( height of the albumin, colour of the egg yolk). The height of the albumin was measured by means of a tripod. The colour of the egg yolk was compared to the Roche colour chart. In the sixth and seventh week the treatment group received no medication. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 2001. / The potentisation process during which homoeopathic preparations are produced, raises the concern that these remedies have a placebo effect, since they contain no active molecule of the substance used to prepare them (in ultra high dilutions) by the time they are administered to a patient. Plant models therefore offer a more direct method of examining the efficacy of homoeopathically prepared solutions. This study investigated the effects of homoeopathic preparations of gibberellic acid on the germination of barley seeds (Hordeum vulgare L.) as measured by a germination index. The effects of GA3 at potencies of 4cH, lScH, 30cH and 200cH on germination rate and seedling development were tested on barley seeds of high-, medium- and low- vigour. The index used comprised the rate at which seeds germinated, which was the time it took for 50 percent of those seeds that did germinate, to germinate (i.e. Tso); seedling development experiments as assessed by taking final germination counts 7 days after start of imbibition, shoot and root lengths, and seedling dry mass. Biological activity of homoeopathically prepared GA3 at lScH was evident in medium vigour seeds, since this treatment resulted in significantly long root development. Highvigour barley seeds imbibed in GA3 (0.5 g L\xB7l ) were found to germinate the fastest of all treatment groups, and high-vigour seeds imbibed in homoeopathically prepared GA3 at 4cH, 30cH and 200cH, germinated faster than those seeds not receiving GA3 in any form (the control). Amongst high-vigour seeds, prior imbibition with homoeopathically / M

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003. / From the world wide sales of homeopathic products for 1997, which were estimated to be $1.15 billion homeopathy is growing and becoming an important aspect of healthcare. In South Africa homeopathy is relatively new and there seems to be limited awareness of homeopathy amongst the public and healthcare authorities. A collection of basic data on treatment and prescribing patterns is urgently needed. A clinical audit, namely, practice based clinical research that allows the effectiveness of homeopathy to be evaluated under 'real-life' circumstances, is required. ABSTRACT A clinical audit includes three areas, quality assurance, treatment outcomes and economic outcomes. The study addressed the first two of these areas. Quality assurance includes documenting practitioner and practice demographics, procedures of diagnosis, care and treatment. The treatment outcomes were assessed by the practitioner and the patient. Patients also gave feedback on consumer satisfaction. The study was carried out by using the survey method and the measuring tool was a series of six questionnaires. The sample of practitioners (n = 30) was drawn from registered homeopathic practitioners of Kwazulu Natal (KZN). Data from 158 patients was collected. The study was completed in 5 stages. Stage 1, was a telephonic contact of all registered homeopaths by the researcher. In Stage 2, a face to face interview of participating practitioners was conducted by the researcher. Stage 3 was the initial consultation, where both the practitioner and patient completed questionnaires. Stage 4 consisted of a follow-up consultation where again the practitioner and patient completed post treatment questionnaires. Stage 5 was the exit questionnaire administered to drop out patients by the researcher telephonically. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homeopathy, Technikon Natal, 2001. / The purpose of this study was to test the relative effectiveness of extract, 3X and 8X homeopathic garlic (Allium sativum) dilutions on Candida albicans and nosocomial multidrug- resistant strains of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Eschericia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in terms of bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects in order to validate the clinical use of garlic in patients infected by these organisms. The test organisms were provided by the Department of Microbiology at the University of Stellenbosch Medical School. A 1:2 aqueous extract was prepared from fresh garlic bulbs. From the extract the 3X and 8X dilutions were made in distilled water according to the method of the German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia. In the experimental group, these three garlic preparations and standardised solutions of each of the five test organisms were serially added, in equal quantities, to nine samples of nutrient broth, incubated and optically evaluated for turbidity against McFarlane standards. Samples showing garlic activity were plated out, incubated and the Colony Forming Units (CFU's) counted. Similarly, in the control group, solutions of each of the five test organisms were added to nine samples of nutrient broth, incubated and optically evaluated for turbidity against McFarlane standards. The CFUs of the experimental and control groups were statistically compared by means of the Kruskal-Wallis test. III Those strains against which garlic exhibited a bactericidal effect (kill = >99,9%), were subjected to a timelkill experiment to determine the time required for the garlic to kill thew / M

Approved for Final Submission Master's degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, Durban, 2004. / The purpose of this study was to compare the communication patterns in the homoeopathic first consultation between qualified practitioners and student practitioners. The overall patterns were also compared to standard medical literature on patient practitioner dialogue. Patients and methods The research groups consisted of two groups of ten participants: one group of qualified registered, and practicing homoeopaths and the other of student interns at the Homoeopathic Day Clinic at the Durban Institute of Technology. Each participant conducted two consultations which were taped for research purposes. These were conducted in the setting of either their private practices or in the Homoeopathic Day Clinic. These tapes were used to generate a data set that described the relative frequencies of certain utterances according to the Rater Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). This data set was analysed statistically to give a comparison between the two groups, as well as being used to describe the patterns of communication in a homoeopathic setting in the larger context of medical interactions. IV Results Significant statistical differences were noted in the communication patterns of practitioners as opposed to student homoeopaths. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, Durban, 1998. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of isotherapy together with the homoeopathic simillimum whilst comparing it with isotherapy combined with placebo in helping people to stop smoking, in terms of a daily smoking log, and the participants attitude to their tobacco smoking addiction. Thirty participants completed this double-blind randornised trial which took place in the northern suburbs of Gauteng. Participants responded to advertisements and were selected according to certain criteria: participants were to be over the age of 18 years of age, and were to have smoked 15 or more cigarettes a day for more than a year. Group 1 received isotherapy and homoeopathic simillimum and group 2 isotherapy and placebo. Each participant received 5 treatments over a period of 3 months. Cigarette consumption was recorded daily by each participant and questionnaires were completed in the presence of the researcher at each consultation. The daily smoking logs and the questionnaire scores were totalled and statistically analysed. Comparison with respect to cigarette consumption between the two groups were analysed using the two-sample unpaired t-test. The Mann-Whitney U-tests were used for inter-group comparisons and the Wilcoxon's signed rank tests for intra-group comparisons with respect to the questionnaires. Data was presented in tables and bar graphs. In each case a was set at 0.05. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the Requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homeopathy, Technikon Natal, 2001. / The purpose of this double -blind placebo-control1ed study was to evaluate the efficacy of a homeopathic complex, Premenstron\xAE, in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome in terms of the patients' perception of the efficacy of the treatment. Thirty-four patients were selected from volunteers who met the diagnostic criteria developed by Dalton (1984: 19). Of these patients thirty completed the study. These patients were divided into two groups according to simple random sampling. Data was collected at the Homeopathic Day Clinic at Technikon Natal. Half of the patients received a placebo and the other half received the homeopathic complex. Patients were treated over a period of approximately two months (three consultations ). The patients completed the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire at each consultation. The questionnaire consists of 47 symptoms grouped into eight subscales. Results were analysed statistically using the Mann Whitney unpaired test (inter-group comparison) and the Wilcoxon's sign rank test (intra-group comparison). When the three questionnaires for each patient were compared, it was found that the placebo group did improve in the second consultation (P= 0.016) but the placebo effect did not last through to the third consultation. The treatment group / M