Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Introduction This descriptive, quantitative perception survey aimed to determine the opinions and treatment regimes of registered South African homoeopaths, regarding childhood vaccinations. Purpose / Aim The purpose of this survey was to determine if there is a coherent treatment protocol amongst homoeopaths when dealing with childhood vaccinations. Methodology The researcher used a questionnaire (Appendix B), aimed at homoeopaths registered with the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA), as primary health care practitioners, to view their patient management techniques regarding vaccinations. This study aimed to document the intervention protocols offered concurrently or as an alternative to orthodox vaccinations. A participant information letter (Appendix A) and a questionnaire (Appendix B) were faxed or e-mailed to all homoeopaths. After a two week time lapse, an independent third party contacted the participants who had not returned the questionnaires to ensure they had received the questionnaire. A further 2 weeks were allowed to lapse for the return of the outstanding questionnaires, after which time the non-complying candidates were excluded from the study. v Anonymity was maintained as the 93 completed questionnaires were returned to the third party. All personal details were removed before the researcher was allowed access to the questionnaires. The data accumulated was evaluated and statistically analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square tests, frequency tables, bar charts, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc multiple comparison tests. A p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results Polio was the only disease that participants felt should be vaccinated against (40%) and only 10.1% of participants rated vaccinations as very important. Half (55.3%) of the participants thought there was not enough scientific proof that vaccinations prevent infectious disease. The participants rated improved sanitization (82.9%); nutrition (72%); access to healthcare (65%); healthcare (64.6%) and education (64.2%) as the most important interventions contributing to the decline of infectious diseases. Conclusions The assumption that most homoeopaths disagree with vaccinations held true as 72% of the participants were not in favor of vaccinations. However, 44.4% felt that the risks of vaccinations did not outweigh the benefits. Results indicate that the majority of participants did not support the use of vaccinations although their treatment protocols and general opinions regarding vaccinations varied tremendously. vi In conclusion, the homoeopathic profession can use this information to decide what steps should be taken to rectify any misconceptions, improve general knowledge and attitudes regarding homoeopaths’ opinions and intervention protocols with regards to childhood vaccinations.

Menopausal symptoms are common causes for women to seek treatment. The severity of symptoms vary from patient to patient and reduces the quality of life for many women. Most women reach menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, some not until 60 and some at an early age in their thirties or forties (Stoppler, 2008). Aim This study aimed to offer an alternative form of treatment for women that are experiencing the unpleasant symptoms that are experienced with menopause, since hormone replacement therapy, may have adverse effects in some women (Wang-Cheng, 2007). This double-blind placebo controlled study investigated the efficacy of a complementary formulation of Folliculinum D6 and Five-Flower Formula™, (Folliculinum D6, Rock Rose, Impatiens, Clematis, Star of Bethlehem, Cherry Plum ) in the treatment of menopausal symptoms in terms of participants’ perception of the treatment. iii This formula is currently available commercially as an unregistered product trading under the name of Femme Rosa. This formula was developed by Dr Maharaj, and is prepared by Natura®. The formula consists of Folliculinum D6 and Five-Flower Formula™. Methodology A total of 60 female participants who were going through natural menopause and currently experiencing menopausal symptoms took part in the study. They were randomly assigned according to the randomization sheet drawn up by the supervisor, 29 participants to the treatment group and 31 to the placebo group. The study was conducted over a period of six weeks and participants were required to attend two consultations at the Homoeopathic Day Clinic at the Durban University of Technology. Participants were recruited according to the inclusion criteria set out. During the first consultation the participants completed the Greene Climacteric Scale questionnaire and a concise case history was taken, thereafter each patient was handed two hot flush diaries to be completed one week before treatment and during the sixth week of treatment. Each participant was required to take one tablet every morning and evening for 6 weeks. Six weeks after the first consultation participants attended the second consultation and the Greene Climacteric Scale was completed for the final time and the hot flush diaries collected. iv Results The results of the first questionnaire and hot flush diary were used as a baseline for statistical analyses. As each group consisted of 29 and 31 subjects, non-parametric tests were used for data analysis. All statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS version 15.0. Conclusion An improvement was demonstrated in both treatment and placebo groups after treatment yet this improvement was not statistically significant. The only symptoms that improved in the treatment group were the hot flushes and psychological symptoms however, there were no significant differences between the treatment and placebo group. It was concluded that the complementary formulation of Folliculinum D6 and Five-Flower Formula™ was not statistically effective in the treatment of menopausal symptoms in terms of the participants’ perception of the treatment.

M.Tech. / There are an estimated 1.2 billion smokers globally (WHO, 2004) and according to Groenewald et al. (2007) approximately 24% of South African adults smoke. The use of tobacco is the second highest cause of death and disability in the world (WHO, 2004), the primary cause of death in the United States (Abrams et al., 2003) and the third leading risk factor in South Africa (Norman et al., 2007). This malady is preventable and as such, the use of tobacco must be regarded as an important public health and treatment priority. In dealing with smoking cessation Lebargy (2000), concluded that nicotine replacement therapy has a success rate of between 20% and 25%. What is significant though is that currently used and recommended conventional smoking cessation techniques have many side-effects and contra-indications. They further stress the importance of new more effective techniques in order to fight the pan-epidemic of smoking (Henningfield et al., 2005; Mitrouska et al., 2007) The remedy being investigated is a homoeopathic preparation, Anti Smoking complex, consisting of Avena sativa D3, Daphne indica D6, Nux vomica D6, Caladium seguinum D60, Nicotinum D60 and Nicotiana tabacum D60. The aim of the research was to evaluate the efficacy of the Anti Smoking complex in the treatment of smoking cessation and nicotine withdrawal symptoms of smokers between the ages of eighteen and sixty years. The efficacy of the Anti Smoking Complex was evaluated in terms of the Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND), the Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (WISDM-68), weekly smoking logs, and withdrawal symptoms for the purpose of identifying a safer alternative in the treatment of smoking cessation and nicotine withdrawal symptoms. A sample group of thirty participants was recruited at the University of Johannesburg Health Centre and various local pharmacies. Participants attended an initial interview, where they were screened by means of questionnaires and physical examinations. Inclusion criteria comprised of: adults between the ages of 18 and 60 years, who were smoking more than 10 cigarettes a day for at least a year with a score of five to seven on the FTND. Reliability and validity of clinical investigations was ensured by adherence to procedural documentation. 3 The study was conducted over a nine week period and was a random double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participation in the study was voluntary and participants were free to refuse treatment or withdraw from the study at any time. Participants were placed into two groups of fifteen – the experimental group had to take 10 drops of the Anti Smoking complex four times daily for six weeks and the control group had to take placebo on the same basis. Follow up appointments to monitor results took place on week 1, 4, 7 and 9 respectively. Collected data was analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages). The data gathered from the FTND, the WISDM-68 and questionnaires was statistically analysed. The results of the experimental and controlled groups were compared using independent samples t-tests. Disparities of clear-cut variables was analysed using Chi-squared tests. Over time differences was analysed using repeated measures ANOVA (Eiselen, 2007). The homoeopathic complex, Anti Smoking Complex is effective in the treatment of smoking cessation. Both the results of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and Wisconsin Inventory for Smoking Dependence supported the above. An overall smoking cessation rate of 20.0% was obtained after the nine week trial period. Of particular importance, there was no significant effect on any of the parameters of the withdrawal symptoms questionnaire. As withdrawal symptoms are a key component of smoking cessation, the action of the complex is incomplete.

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2008. / The purpose of this placebo controlled study was to evaluate the efficacy of a homoeopathic complex (Carbo Vegetabilis D9, Lycopodium clavatum D9, Nux Vomica D9 and Robinia Pseudoacacia D9) in the treatment of patients suffering from functional dyspepsia; in terms of the patient’s perception of the treatment. It was hypothesized that the patients treated with the complex would respond favorably in terms of the symptoms associated with dyspepsia. In this experimental study the single variable design was used for its ‘before and after with control’. Thirty patients with functional dyspepsia were selected after been screened according to diagnostic criteria identified by the researcher. These patients were divided into two groups according to simple random sampling. Data was collected at the Homoeopathic Day Clinic at the Durban University of Technology. Group one received the homoeopathic complex and group two received a placebo complex. Patients received treatment over a period of six weeks (three consultations). The patients, during each consultation, in the presence of the researcher, completed the Patient Perception Questionnaire. Results were statistically analysed using the FriedmansTest (inter group comparison) and The Wilcoxon signed Rank Test (intra group comparison). When the three questionnaires for each patient were compared it was found that neither the placebo group, nor the experimental group yielded significant improvement. Therefore the results of this clinical trial demonstrated that this homoeopathic complex is not effective in the treatment of functional dyspepsia, when compared to placebo, in terms of patient perception. / M

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

Thesis (M.Sc. (Paravet. Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MSc (Paravet. Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / C4 trituration provings are a somewhat controversial method of uncovering the therapeutic value of homoeopathic remedies. The key advantage of this method over traditional proving methods is that a substance can be proved in a matter of hours, rather than weeks or months. However there is a lack of research to show whether the results of the two methods are comparable. AIM The aim of this study is to establish whether symptoms elicited in a C4 trituration proving are comparable to symptoms produced in traditional provings of the same substance. If a similarity can be demonstrated – even on a single substance – it may encourage further studies to determine the extent to which C4 provings can be used in association with, or instead of, traditional provings as a means of developing homoeopathic remedies. METHOD Ten triturators were recruited from an existing group of experienced triturators to prove an unknown substance. Data were harvested from debriefing sessions and from notes kept by triturators during the sessions, and these were transcribed and converted to rubrics. An unprejudiced repertorisation was undertaken in an (unsuccessful) attempt to identify the substance before unblinding. After the substance was revealed to be Borax, the rubrics from the C4 proving were statistically compared to rubrics associated with Borax in Radar 9.0, the electronic version of the repertory Synthesis: Repertorium Homoeopathicum Syntheticum (2004), which reflects traditional provings of this substance. The statistical comparison of rubrics was performed in SPSS; a Pearson Chi-Square test was applied to establish statistical significance; and a Cramer's V test was used to determine the strength of that association. RESULT The comparison failed to find a significant correlation between the rubrics from the C4 proving of Borax and traditional provings of the same substance. At a chapter level, there were significant associations between symptoms relating to Hearing and Kidneys but, for reasons discussed at length in the report, these results must be treated with circumspection. CONCLUSION While C4 provings are faster than the traditional method, as refined by Sherr, in view of the above findings it cannot be recommended that C4 provings be considered as a means of developing homoeopathic remedies instead of traditional provings, because C4 provings would not produce a complete symptom picture. RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendations arising from the study include that the exercise should be repeated with a different substance and group of provers, preferably with confidential debriefing of participants (as opposed to group debriefing, which is the norm for C4 provings), to verify these findings.

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

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / South Africa is a diverse and multi-cultured country where coronary vascular disease has become a leading cause of mortality among all sub-cultures. According to the South African Dyslipidaemia Guidelines Consensus Statement published in 2012 it is estimated that every day 80 people die of myocardial infarcts and 60 people die of strokes. Hypercholesterolaemia is associated with the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques which lead to the condensing and restriction of vessel walls. This in turn leads to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease which can present itself in the form of hypertension and coronary heart disease (Knox, 2008). This product Vasostate™ proposes to lower total serum cholesterol levels in a variety of ways ranging from aiding and increasing the transport of cholesterol to the liver while decreasing the amount of cholesterol synthesised by the liver to reducing cholesterol uptake from the intestines (Foodstate, n.d.). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of Vasostate™ on modifying elevated lipid and CRP levels in males with fasting total serum cholesterol levels greater than 4.5mmol/l utilising blood measures including Lipogram and ultra-sensitive CRP within a 12 week period. This was a double-blind placebo controlled study conducted over a 13 week period utilising 40 male participants 30 to 55 years of age. Participants qualified for participation in the study with two rapid total plasma cholesterol test results averaging between 4.5-6.5mmol/l and no more than two Category 2 cardiovascular risk factors or a plasma cholesterol greater than 6.5mmol/l with no more than one Category 2 cardiovascular risk factors in individuals who are unwilling or unable to take conventional dyslipidaemia medicine. Participants were divided into 2 groups of 20 each. The control group was given the placebo (an identical form to the active in appearance), while the experimental group received Vasostate™. In order to ensure uniform distribution of participants across both groups stratification of participants between each group took place according to race and cigarette smoking. To guarantee the double blinded aspect of the study the researcher was not informed which group was the active or the placebo until the statistical results were released...