M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / Influenza is a highly infectious illness caused by the influenza A or B viruses. Together with the high infectivity rates, relatively short incubation period and the genetic lability of the influenza virus, influenza can cause overwhelming epidemics and thus become extremely problematic to world public health (Bannister et al., 1996: 131-134). Influenza and influenza-like syndromes are responsible for one third of absenteeism in the workplace and it is due to this that prophylactic and curative measures have become necessary (papp et al., 1998: 69-76). In homoeopathyit is known that treatment of an epidemic with the genus epidemicus remedy should be effective in the majority of cases (Kent, 1979: 33-39). This remedy is carefully chosen on account of its similarity to the main presenting symptoms displayed in all cases of the respective year's influenza picture. The aim of this study . was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the genus epidemicus remedy indicated for the current year's influenza epidemic, namely Arsenicum album. It was administered in a 30CH potency. The efficacy of the genus epidemicus remedy in the treatment of influenza was assessed by investigating the intensity and duration of influenza symptoms over a specified period of time, this being four days, in a suitable sample group. The sample group was selected and obtained in a clinical setting. The sample group was randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group of fifteen participants respectively. Symptoms were monitored with the use of a questionnaire (Appendix C). Placebos were administered to the control group and Arsenicum album 30CH was administered to the experimental group. The medication was administered as a single dose of five pillules three times daily. The first dose of medication was administered in the clinician's office on commencement of the study and the following. six doses were to be taken three times daily, in the morning, at lunch and in the evening, by the participants themselves. Data was analysed by means of the Mann-Whitney statistical test. The experimental and control groups were analysed separately. Group A was determined to be the control group and Group B was determined to be the experimental group. Effectiveness ofArsenicum album 30CH in the treatment of influenza was defined as a statistically significant greater decrease in the symptom severity over time in the experimental group, Group B, as compared with the control group, Group A. From statistical evaluation it was determined that the homoeopathic remedy, Arsenicum album 30CH, was the indicated genus epidemicus remedy for the influenza epidemic of the winter of 2001. It was further determined that Arsenicum album 30CH was effective in reducing the severity of symptoms of influenza or influenza-like syndrome and was thus effective in the treatment of influenza and influenza-like syndrome.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy at Durban Institute of Technology, 2003. / The purpose of this double blind randomised study is to evaluate the efficacy of homoeopathic simillimum versus high doses of vitamin C in the treatment of Influenza Type Syndrome in terms of subjective symptoms assessed by the patient, and objective clinical signs assessed by the researcher / M

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / The common cold is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract, usually afebrile in nature. It is characterized by inflammation of the airways (Beers and Porter 2006). Influenza, commonly referred to as “flu”, is an acute and highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. It is easily spread by sneezing and coughing (Balch, 2006). Conventional medication typically includes: aspirin, nasal decongestants, antihistamines, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antiviral drugs, but these substances may produce unwanted side-effects. If a secondary bacterial infection develops, antibiotics are added (Beers, 2003). Linctagon® Forte Capsules are a self-help proprietary medication by Nativa containing Pelargonium sidoides, Quercetin, Bromelain and Zinc, and is used for the treatment of colds and influenza (Nativa, 2011), but further research is required for this product. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of Linctagon® Forte Capsules on the symptoms of colds and influenza of female resident students between the ages of eighteen and thirty five years at the University of Johannesburg. Efficacy was determined by means of a modified “Severity of Symptoms Questionnaire” and a modified “Quality of Life Questionnaire”. Thirty female participants, aged between 18 and 35 years, with symptoms of common cold and influenza, were recruited in this double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants were recruited by means of advertising flyers and posters at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) campuses as well as the University of Johannesburg female residences. Participants that presented with any of the common cold or influenza symptoms were to immediately contact the researcher to set up an initial interview. The study was conducted over an eight day period with a total of three consultations. During the first consultation, the participants were requested to sign a “Participant Profile Form”, a “Participant Information and Consent Form” and undergo the relevant physical examinations. Participants were then given either the placebo capsules or the Linctagon® Forte Capsules and instructed to take one capsule three times daily. Participants were also requested to complete a modified “Severity of Symptoms Questionnaire” and a modified “Quality of Life Questionnaire” every evening for the duration of the study. All data collected during the study was statistically analysed using Chi Square as well as the Descriptive Analysis (Smith, 2011).

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / Upper Respiratory tract viral infections (URTIs), such as influenza and the common cold, are a group of common infections in the human population. They have a seemingly mild nature, but studies have found them to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide (Wat, 2004). In the western world, the majority of pre-school childrenconsult a doctor for a respiratory infection at least once a year. Conventional medical treatment options are said to be limited, and antibiotics are often unnecessarily prescribed.The frequency of antibiotic prescriptions has caused a resistance of pathogenic bacteria against these antibiotics, and this in turn, has become a major threat to treatment (Schönbeck et al., 2005). A traditional South African herb, Pelargonium sidoides (P. sidoides), has been shown to have antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties in many investigations (Brendler, 2009). No studies have been done to date assessing the efficacy of P. sidoides as a prophylactic for influenza and the common cold in children. This study aimed at establishing the efficacy of Linctagon® Syrup in the prevention of colds and influenza in pre-school children. The study was a double- blind, placebo–controlled study whereby thirty healthy children aged four to six years old were placed into two groups using matched pairs according to gender. Fifteen participants were allocated to the experimental group whereby the Linctagon® Syrup was taken for the duration of the study. The other fifteen participants were allocated in the placebo group for the duration of the study and given a placebo syrup. Parents / guardians were requested to read the Participant Information Leaflet (Appendix B), and sign the Participant Details and Consent Form (Appendix C,) and the participants were requested to sign the Participation of Minor Assent Form (Appendix D). On day 0, the parents / guardians signed the forms and the initial visit took place. The researcher conducted an ear, nose, throat and respiratory examination on each participant and vital signs were measured. The medication was randomised by an independent person at Nativa Laboratories. Each participant received two 150ml bottles of either the Linctagon® syrup or placebo syrup, and parents / guardians were advised on how to administer the medication (Appendix E), by the researcher. The participants were required to take 2.5ml twice daily for a period of sixty days. A Weekly Progress Questionnaire (Appendix F) was handed to the parents / guardians of each child, and they were requested to fill them in over an eight week period. This questionnaire assessed the wellness of the child for the duration of the study and involved a 4-point rating system to assess the severity of symptoms for both influenza and the common cold. Weekly telephone calls were made to the participants’ parents / guardians to follow up on progress. A final visitation occurred on day 60, and included the collection of the questionnaires. The parents / guardians were requested to fill in a score card at the end of the study, rating the effectiveness of Linctagon® Syrup in the prevention of colds and influenza in their child (Appendix G). The data was statistically analysed by Statkon at the University of Johannesburg by means of non-parametric tests, namely: descriptive data, Cochran’s test, Chi-square test, cross tabulation, Mann-Whitney U test and the Friedman test. The research study determined that Linctagon® Syrup did not have a statistically significant effect in the prevention of influenza and the common cold in children, in support of the null hypothesis. Linctagon® Syrup also had no effect on reducing the incidence, frequency or duration of symptoms in those children who became ill, however this may be due to the relativity low dosage prescribed. Further large scale studies are recommended to validate these results.The score card (subjective rating on the efficacy of the syrup) showed a statistically significant result between the two groups, in favour of the treatment group.

M.Tech. (Homeopathy) / The common cold and influenza (flu) are both acute viral infections affecting the upper respiratory tract (Beers & Porter, 2006). The common cold typically presents with rhinorrhea, sneezing, and a sore throat (Kansal & Kaushal, 2004), and influenza causes fever, coryza, cough, headache, malaise and body pain (Beers & Porter, 2006). Millions of school and work days are missed annually due to cold and influenza symptoms (Fendrick et al., 2003). Students at universities have a high incidence of colds and influenza due to raised levels of stress and close contact with other infected individuals (Zachary, 2006). Researchers believe that Interleukin-6 (a protein in the body responsible for co-ordination of immune response) may be a biological link between psychological stress and the severity of cold and influenza symptoms. This may make students more susceptible to the common cold and influenza (Mercola, 1999). Conventional treatment for both conditions is comprised of analgesics, antipyretics, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or anti-viral drugs, all of which have numerous adverse effects (Roxas & Jurenka, 2007). Linctagon® Forte capsules consists of four ingredients: Pelargonium sidoides (333mg), Quercetin (80mg), Bromelain (53mg) and Zinc (5mg) and are purported to provide antiviral support in the treatment of colds and influenza. The aim of this eight-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to assess the efficacy of Linctagon® Forte Capsules in the treatment of cold and influenza symptoms on first and second year Health Sciences students from the University of Johannesburg. Thirty seven students from the first and second year Health Sciences Faculty of the University of Johannesburg, suffering from common cold or influenza symptoms, were recruited to participate. This included male and female students between the ages of 18 to 30 years. Advertisements (Appendix A) were placed at the UJ Health Training Centre, classrooms and on campus, with relevant permission given. Thirty participants completed the study and seven students did not complete due to poor compliance. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were dealt with by completion of a Participant Information and Consent Form (Appendix B) as well as a Participant Profile Form which recorded all initial symptoms (Appendix C). All participants were required to have a minimum of five of the ten symptoms represented on the Participant Profile form (Appendix C). Once participants were accepted into the study they were allocated to either Group A or Group B, with 15 participants in each group. The medication bottles were packaged and labelled by Nativa (24 capsules in a 100mg container), and the active medication and the placebo were randomised by means of a coding system, Batch “A” and Batch “B”. Group A received the Linctagon® Forte Capsules and Group B received the unmedicated lactose capsules. The participants were requested to take 1 capsule three times per day. Each participant was given eight Symptom Score Cards (Appendix D) to complete each card every morning and evening for the eight day period, to rate the severity of their symptoms according to a 5-point rating system. The influenza and common cold symptoms were analysed according to their decrease in frequency and intensity over the set period of time. Data was only recorded and analysed for days one to seven due to poor compliance by participants in both groups with regards to completion of the Symptom Score Cards towards the end of the study. Both the treatment (Group A) and the placebo (Group B) groups showed similar improvement in symptom severity over the entire research period, and there was no statistical significance between the two groups. This shows neither group outperformed the other, supporting the null hypothesis. Small sample size, the placebo effect and low dosages of certain of the active ingredients are possible factors involved in the results seen, and should be considered for future studies.

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / The common cold and influenza (flu) are upper respiratory tract conditions; the former characterized by nasal or throat discomfort, sneezing, rhinorrhoea, and malaise, and the latter by fever, coryza, anorexia, cough, headache, malaise and myalgia (Beers et al., 2006). The common cold can be caused by over 200 rhinoviruses while influenza is mostly due to influenza virus A or B. Cold symptoms usually clear after 7-10 days, influenza which is more severe lasts for 2-3 weeks (Eccles, 2005). Athletes are susceptible to common colds and influenza infections due to intensive physical activities and stress, which lowers their immune systems and increases the risk of spread among team-mates. To avoid missing competitions and practice, it would be advantageous for athletes to receive prophylactic treatment during the high risk period for colds and flu such as in winter (Brukner and Khan, 2006). Pelargonium sidoides, which is an ingredient of Linctagon® spray, is a well-researched plant extract which has antiviral, antibacterial and immune-modulator effects (Nativa, 2011). Its effect as a prophylactic for athletes has not been researched. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of Linctagon® spray in preventing common colds and influenza in female soccer teams of the University of Johannesburg. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which took place over 63 days. Thirty female participants aged between 18-30 years were recruited from the University of Johannesburg female soccer teams via direct recruitment during training sessions on the University of Johannesburg Bunting campus. Participants meeting the inclusion criteria completed the Participant Information, Profile and Consent Forms. On day 1, the participants underwent a physical examination (vitals, ear, nose, throat and chest examinations). Participants either received a 20 ml bottle of Linctagon® spray or a placebo spray. Five squirts were taken orally twice daily for nine weeks. Participants also received three Wellness Questionnaires and Health Questionnaires to complete at home weekly and returned these at the following visits. On day 21 and day 42, the researcher collected the completed Questionnaires, performed a physical examination, dispensed and gave participants additional medication, and three additional Wellness and Health Questionnaires. At the final consultation, day 63, the researcher collected the questionnaires, and did a fourth and final physical examination. The data was collected from the participants and analyzed according to group frequencies and independent T-tests. The outcome indicated that the placebo was equally as effective as Linctagon® spray in the prophylaxis of common cold and influenza infections in female soccer team players of the University of Johannesburg for the duration of the study.