Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 2002. / The mode of action of homoeopathic remedies is not well understood and is questioned by the scientific community due to the high degree of dilution of such remedies. The method by which remedies are produced is thought to instill the efficacy into these remedies. This research examines whether effective homoeopathic remedies may be prepared by electromagnetic induction, by serial dilution alone, or by conventional Hahnemannian production, which includes succussion. These methods were investigated in terms of the ability of dilutions of gibberellic acid, prepared by the above methods, to induce production of a-amylase by de-embryonated endosperm halves of barley seed. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 1999. / This study investigated the effect of ultra high dilutions of gibberellic acid (GA3) on the synthesis of the enzyme a-amylase in de-embryonated endosperm halves of barley seed (Hordeum vulgare cv. Stirling, ex Caledon, Western Cape, South Africa, 1998 harvest), in order to determine whether such dilutions are capable of producing a biological effect or not. Homoeopathic theory and practice proposes that such dilutions are capable of such effects (Gaier 1991 :445-447). / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 1999. / The purpose of this study was to compare the relative effectiveness of miasmatic treatment as opposed to simillimum treatment in terms of the objective clinical findings in patients with acne vulgaris. / M

M.Tech. / The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the homoeopathic complex remedy, Sepia® from Natura (Pty) Ltd. in South Africa, in alleviating climacteric symptoms in climacteric women as compared with a placebo remedy. Volunteers were recruited using flyers and posters placed at the Technikon Witwatersrand Clinic, and at pharmacies and health shops within the central Johannesburg area. Newspaper advertisements were placed in local newspapers advertising free homoeopathic treatment for climacteric symptoms by taking part in a research project. A sample size of forty subjects was chosen according to the delimitations of the study. A signed consent form was compulsory for participation in the study. The study was a two group experimental design consisting of an experimental group, who were administered Sepia®, and a control group, who were administered a placebo preparation. The study was conducted in a double-blind manner. The subjects were given sufficient medication to last for the duration of the study and were given instructions on how and when to take the medication, and how to store it. The duration of the study was eight consecutive weeks (two consecutive months). At the end of the treatment period there were fifteen subjects in the treatment group, and fourteen subjects in the placebo group During the treatment period the participants were required to fill out a Climacteric Symptom Questionnaire on a weekly basis and a Hot Flush Score Sheet on a daily basis. All the daily Hot Flush Score Sheets and weekly Climacteric Symptom Questionnaires were completed by each participant. They were collected after the eight week treatment period and subjects ceased taking the medication

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / Myofascial pain syndrome is a common yet one of the least understood problems encountered in adults. It often goes unrecognised, misdiagnosed and mistreated. There are many effective treatments to date, however there is very little research to substantiate which of these treatments are the most effective. Unfortunately there is no known research available into the effectiveness ofa Homoeopathic remedy in the treatment ofmyofascial pain. The aim of this double blind randomised study is to prove whether Saline or Traumeel (a complex Homoeopathic remedy) injected into an active trigger point would prove to be effective in tenus of pain relief. Patients presenting with head and neck pain were considered for this study. Only patients that adhered to the specified delimitations and diagnostic criteria were accepted. The sample size of twenty patients was divided randomly into two groups, consisting often patients each. Group A received saline injections and Group B received Traumeel injections. Only active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle were injected. The treatment period consisted oftwo injections administered one week apart. The neck pain and disability index (questionnaire) and the numerical rating scale collected data concerning each patient's pain. Patients were also required to draw their pain on body charts. Data was analysed statistically, showing the mean decrease in pain expressed as a percentage for each group. A level of confidence was set at 95% for each group. Results were displayed with the aid of graphs. Each group shows significant improvement with regards to pain reduction. However Traumeel shows a greater percentage decrease in pain compared to Saline. Therefore in terms of pain management in myofascial pain of the upper trapezius muscle, Traumeel is slightly more effective than Saline.

The apparent success of homeopathy is often attributed to a collaborative, holistic and empathic consultation and to the practitioner patient relationship. However most research into the homeopathic consultation has focussed on patients’ experiences although the practitioner is a crucial component of the therapeutic context and may have an important part to play in optimising health outcomes in homeopathy. Therefore the aim of this research was to gain an in depth understanding of homeopathic practitioners’ perceptions and experiences of the consultation. An additional aim was to generate a theoretical model to explain the processes that underpin the homeopathic consultation. A qualitative approach was taken using constructivist grounded theory methodology employing a process of two phases of data collection. Medical and non medical homeopaths were sampled from the registers of the Faculty of Homeopathy and the Society of Homeopaths. Phase 1 involved face to face in-depth interviews with homeopaths. From these interviews a theoretical model of the homeopathic consultation was developed. Phase 2 of data collection involved observations of homeopathic consultations and the use of solicited practitioner reflective diaries in order to confirm, refute or enlarge on the model which developed from phase 1. The emergent theoretical model entitled “a theoretical model of a UK classical homeopathic consultation” describes how homeopaths view and enact the consultation process. The findings indicate that the consultation consists of processes which are interlinked and dependent on each other. I have labelled these processes exploring the journey together, finding the level, responding therapeutically and understanding self. Central to these processes is the core category which I have labelled connecting. This study has highlighted that the whole process of the homeopathic consultation is important and aspects that are unique to homeopathy such as the process of identifying and matching the homeopathic remedy cannot be separated from the rest of the consultation and must be considered as part of the whole process. Additionally the ritualistic and symbolic aspects of the consultation that are embedded in this process are of paramount importance and provide meaning, highlighting the power of the consultation to promote beneficial effects for the patient. This research has implications for all stakeholders and signals many future avenues for research.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy)- Dept. of Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2008. xvi, 256 leaves. / Conduct a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study in order to determine the sphere of action of the imponderable remedy Pink 30CH on healthy volunteers who recorded the signs and symptoms produced in order to determine the substances potential usefulness in a future clinical setting according to the Law of Similars. Determine and highlight the commonalities shared between the symptoms and themes produced by remedy Pink 30CH and the other selected imponderable remedies. In the homoeopathic drug proving of remedy Pink 30CH, provers were uninformed to both the nature of the substance as well as to the potency selected and used for proving purposes. Neither the provers nor the research investigator had any knowledge of who received the verum or the placebo until the end of the proving. Thirty (30) provers were selected after meeting the inclusion criteria of which thirty percent (30%) of the subjects received placebo in a randomised fashion. Verum and placebo were dispensed to the proving body in a set of six (6) powders which were taken sublingually three (3) times daily or until any proving symptoms were experienced. All provers were examined and made to record in their journals before, during and after the administration of the proving substance so as to serve as their own intra-individual controls. At the end of the proving period all journals were then recalled and all proving data recorded was then collated and edited into a repertory and materia medica format, which was then used to formulate a homoeopathic drug picture of the remedy that could be used in future clinical settings. The homoeopathic drug picture thus derived was then analysed with the aim of highlighting the important themes that were elicited during the proving. These symptoms and themes were then related and compared to seven (7) other imponderable remedies: Luna (Moonlight); Magnetis Polus Arcticus (North pole of the magnet); Magnetis Polus Australis (South pole of the magnet); Positronium (Anti-matter); Radium bromatum (Radium bromide); Sol (Sunlight) and X-ray, in order to expand the overall understanding of the commonalities shared by the imponderabilia as an entirety.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy)-Dept. of Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2008. xiii, 159 leaves / The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Gymnura natalensis in the thirtieth centesimal potency on healthy volunteers and to record the signs and symptoms produced by the volunteers during the study. These signs and symptoms determined the therapeutic indications of this remedy for its prescription according to the homoeopathic Law of Similars. A further aim of this study is a proposed group analysis of a natural family of biologically unrelated sea animal remedies (Mangialavori, 2002) with the aim of highlighting themes, similarities and differences within the group.

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements of the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Durban University of Technology, 2007 / The homoeopathic drug proving of Erythrina lysistemon 30CH took a form of a randomised triple–blind, placebo–controlled study. This trial was conducted at the Homoeopathic Day Clinic on the premises of Durban University of Technology. The research group consisted of 32 provers, which were recruited from amongst practicing homoeopaths, homoeopathic students (2`nd–5`th year), as well as patients of the Homoeopathic Day Clinic (DUT) and their relatives. The participation was purely on voluntary basis. Provers were randomly divided into two groups: a placebo group of 12; a proving group of 20. Each researcher supervised 8 provers. Neither the provers, nor the researchers were aware of the name or nature of the substance being proved, and whether a prover is receiving a placebo or the proving substance until the unblinding process. Provers had a homoeopathic case history taken and a physical examination performed on them before commencement of the proving to establish each individual’s baseline. Provers were required to keep journals in which they recorded their sign and symptoms: starting 7 days prior to commencing the proving, throughout the proving, as well as after administration of the remedy formulated. All the information gathered was then correlated and interpreted by the researchers i.e. four M.Tech.Hom students. Subsequent translation of the symptoms into materia medica and repertory language took place. On completion of the proving a homoeopathic picture of the remedy with III distinct affinities was established. Those affinities were then compared to the toxicology of the major chemical constituents of Erythrina lysistemon. Data was then analyzed by qualitative methods for it was not amendable to standard statistical analysis.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements of the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Durban University of Technology, 2008. / The purpose of this double blind placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the efficacy of a homoeopathic complex (Germanium metallicum 30CH, Nux vomica 12CH, Kalium phosphoricum 6CH, Picricum acidum 6CH) in the treatment of job burnout in the human services field. In total 30 participants were chosen according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The sample group was then randomly divided into a treatment group consisting of 15 participants, and a placebo group consisting of 15 participants. The study was conducted at the Durban University of Technology. The Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey (Appendix A) was used as a measurement tool. There was an initial consultation with the researcher which consisted of a full consultation, physical examination and administration of the survey. Thereafter there were two follow-up consultations at 4 week intervals at which the survey was re-administered. Medication was dispensed to the participants at the initial and the first follow up consultations only. The data obtained from the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey was statistically analysed using the SPSS software package (Version 15). Due to the small sample size of the study non-parametric tests were conducted. The intra-group analysis was performed using Friedman‟s Test and Wilcoxon‟s Signed Rank Test. The inter-group analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis Test. Friedman‟s Test indicated a significant improvement in the emotional exhaustion subscale for both the treatment and placebo groups. The subscales of depersonalisation and personal accomplishment did not however reflect a significant difference.The Wilcoxon‟s Signed Rank Test indicated that for both groups there was a significant improvement in the emotional exhaustion subscale between baseline and follow up 1 and between follow up 2 and baseline (i.e. P<0.05). The Kruskal-Wallis Test showed no significant difference between the treatment and placebo groups. This was the case for all three subscales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey. The results of the study led to the conclusion that statistically the homoeopathic complex (Germanium metallicum 30CH, Nux vomica 12CH, Kalium phosphoricum 6CH, Picricum acidum 6CH) was not effective in the treatment of job burnout.