M.Tech (Homoeopathy) / This in vitro study investigated whether Echinacea angustifolia (Ea), E.purpurea (Ep) and the Echinacea angustifo/iaJ E.purpurea Complex (EalEp) in mother tincture (MT), potencies of 3CH, 9CH and 15CH had any direct antifungal and/or antibacterial action against Candida a/bicans and Streptococcus pyogenes, respectively. These organisms form part of the normal human flora, but in immunocompromised individuals they can initiate opportunistic cutaneous and upper respiratory tract infections, which are seen commonly in the general practitioner's practice. Ea and Ep were assessed for synergistic action when combined as the EalEp Complex. The quantitative tube potency test (TPT) and the qualitative disc diffusion test (DDT) were used to determine the product efficacy against twenty strains of each test organism. Results showed that none of the homoeopathic medications tested had a direct inhibitory antifungal effect on G.a/bicans. Ea in 15CH potency exerted significant growth reduction of S.pyogenes. Ep at 9CH and 15CH significantly stimulated the growth of C.a/bicans. Ep and EalEp at all potencies and Ea MT significantly stimulated the growth of S.pyogenes. Further studies are required to determine whether the stimulatory effects of the various potencies of the Echinacea products on the test organisms are additive or synergistic.

Information regarding the type of patient seeking health care treatment at a homoeopathic practice or clinic in South Africa is hard to come by although awareness of complementary medicine has increased substantially over the last two decades. Most homoeopaths in South Africa are currently in private practice. The aim of the study is therefore to create a patient profile as a basis for evaluating the effectiveness and benefits of homoeopathy as a complimentary form of health care in South Africa. A patient profile was compiled using existing patient data files at the Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR) health clinic. A random sample of one hundred and thirty seven patient files was drawn from patients that visited the TWR health clinic during 2003. Disease conditions treated, gender, age, occupation, type of homoeopathic treatment and number of consultations was noted. The information was entered into a computer database program and analysed. Data was implicitly stratified according to date and gave a seasonal representation of conditions. The amount of money paid per consultation was noted in order to compare the cost of treatment to the patient on a year to year basis. Chi square tests and cross tabulation methods were used to analyse the data. A total of one hundred and thirty seven patient files were analysed. The mean age of the study group was thirty seven. More females visited the clinic than males. Working age adults made out the bulk of the patients. Diseases treated were mostly chronic respiratory, neurological, skin and musculoskeletal conditions. The majority of the patients visited the clinic only once. Patients visiting the TWR Homoeopathic health clinic were most often treated with polychrests of the 200th CH potency. The patient profile that was created compared favourably with patient profiles in similar studies in countries in Europe. / Dr. N. Wolf Dr. S.C. van Es

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Onychocryptosis (ingrown nails) is the most common of pedal foot maladies seen by podiatrists (Armstrong et al., 2000) and makes up 3-5% of all foot problems. This condition is characterized by the nail plate growing into and cutting the lateral nail fold. Symptoms include erythema (redness) of the lateral nail fold, oedema (swelling) of the lateral nail fold and tenderness to pressure (Zuber, 2002). Within the Materia Medica, the homoeopathic remedy Magnetis Polus Australis is indicated for the treatment of the symptom of “ingrowing toenail” (Vermeulen, 1997). Although used for nearly 200 years, no research has been conducted to verify this claim. The study aimed at determining whether Magnetis Polus Australis in the 7th and 30th centesimal potencies is effective in treating the symptoms of onychocryptosis of the hallux such as pain, tenderness to pressure, oedema and erythema. The study, a double-blind placebo study, involved thirty participants. The placebo group included ten participants and the experimental group included twenty participants, ten of which received the 7CH and the other ten received the 30CH. Each group took the homoeopathic or placebo medication orally twice daily for a period of three weeks. The participants were followed-up with an assessment questionnaire every two weeks for a one month period. At the end of the research period these questionnaires with the data were collected and statistically analyzed using chi-squared tests. The study indicated that Magnetis Polus Australis has a positive effect in the treatment of onychocryptosis of the hallux and has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing inflammation associated with it. Overall the 30th centesimal potency shows the highest percentage of improvement in the symptoms of onychocryptosis, though the percentages between the two experimental groups were very close. Further research using a larger research sample group is required to confirm these initial findings. / Dr. E.M. Solomon Mr. B. Zipfel

M.Tech.

M.Tech.

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the Master's Diploma in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 1995. / The aim of this study was to determine the effect of succussion in the preparation of homoeopathic medicine in terms of the methods of succussion and cell culture growth, in order to identify the relevance of succussion in the preparation of homoeopathic medicine. / M

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 1998. / The downy mildews are fungal pathogens which cause severe epidemics on many crops, and are difficult to control by either management practices or fungicides. Homoeopathic medicines have been investigated for their control of fungi, with promising results. However, there are a few well conducted trials in the homoeopathic literature. In particular, the lack of statistical analyses is evident in most of the work done to date. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a homoeopathic remedy, prepared from a leaf infected with Peronospora parasitica, for the control of downy mildew of Brassicas. These results were compared to fungicides used to control downy mildew namely, Acrobat and Bravo. The subjects of this study were trays of cabbage seedlings. The seedlings were inoculated by introducing infected seedlings at a rate of one per tray. The potencies used in the trials were 9CH, 30CH, 200CH and 1M. Special attention was paid to preventative and curative functions of the treatment sprays. Four replicates of each treatment were used, in a randomised blocks design. The test population was divided into two groups. The first group, Batch A, was treated prophylactically and the second, Batch B, curatively. The trays were placed into randomised positions generated by a computer, in order to nullify subjectivity and the effect of tray position. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 2000. / The purpose of this study was to expand on previous research in Homoeopathy, using the cabbage (Brassica oleracae) and crucifer downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica) disease system. More specifically, this study aimed to evaluate the biological effects of homoeopathic treatments made from a fungicide, Acrobat, on the development of downy mildew on cabbage seedlings. The object was to demonstrate the Arndt-Schulz Law or Hormesis (inhibition of growth at high concentrations and growth stimulation at low concentrations) using homoeopathic treatments prepared as per homoeopathic methodology, by dilution and succussion. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003. / The purpose of this double-blind study was to compare the effectiveness of miasmatic treatment as compared to homoeopathic simillimum in the treatment of Acne Vulgaris. A final comparison was done with a concurrent study that was conducted on comparison of a herbal complex to homoeopathic simillimum in the treatment of Acne Vulgaris. This made it possible for miasmatic treatment to be compared to herbal complex. The ultimate purpose of this research study was to evaluate which treatment is the most effective in the treatment of this condition / M