Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements of the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homeopathy, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / INTRODUCTION Dysmenorrhoea is defined as difficult menstrual flow or painful menstruation. Dysmenorrhoea is the most common gynaecological complaint in younger women who present themselves to clinicians. Primary dysmenorrhoea is defined as painful menstrual cramps without any evident pathology present. It refers to any degree of perceived cramping pain experienced during menstruation. Around 50% of menstruating females suffer from primary dysmenorrhoea. Prevalence decreases with age, with prevalence being highest in the 20 to 24 year old age group. This trial intended to evaluate the effectiveness of a phytotherapeutic complex in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea compared to homoeopathic similimum in a 30 cH plussed potency. This study aimed to provide the safe and effective alternative therapy for primary dysmenorrhoea, especially for the population that is contradicted to use the readily available forms of treatments. TRIAL DESIGN This double-blind randomised parallel clinical trial, aimed to determine the effectiveness of a phytotherapeutic complex consisting of Angelica sinensis1:10, Dioscorea villosa1:10, Matricaria chamomilla 1:10, Viburnum opulus 1:10, and Zingiber officinalis 1:10 in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, compared to homoeopathic similimum in a 30cH plussed potency. METHODOLOGY A sample group of 26 participants were voluntarily selected for the study on the basis of an inclusion and exclusion criteria. These participants were then randomly divided into two groups, 17 in the group receiving the phytotherapeutic complex, 8 in the control group receiving the similimum and 1 drop-out. Each participant had to attend a total of four consultations with the researcher over a three month period, at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Homoeopathic Day Clinic. At each consultation the participant completed the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) (Appendix B) as well as the Pain Rating Scale (PRS) (Appendix C). Intra-group analysis was performed using the non-parametric test for analysis of variance: Friedman’s test. Inter-group analysis was conducted using the Mann- Whitney U test for two independent samples. RESULTS Results from the intra-group analysis showed that in both groups most measured parameters relating to experience during the previous menstrual flow showed statistically significant reductions in intensity. This is to say that both the group receiving phytotherapy and the group receiving similimum experienced reductions in their symptoms as measured by both the MDQ and the PRS. Results from the inter-group analysis showed that there is no significant difference between the phytotherapy and similimum group in all symptoms except the water retention category, with regard to symptom perception during the last menstrual flow of the trial. CONCLUSION The conclusion reached in this study was that both the phytotherapeutic complex treatment and the homoeopathic similimum treatment were effective at reducing the clinical features of primary dysmenorrhea, but there was no significant difference between the phytotherapy and similimum group in all except the water retention category during the last menstrual period as measured by the MDQ Further, there was no statistically significant difference between groups treated with phytotherapy compared to similimum as measured by the PRS. / M

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the involuntary loss of urine when sudden, external forces cause a brief increase in intra-abdominal pressure during stress events such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, bending, lifting, or exercise (ICS, 2013).SUI is a subcategory of urinary incontinence (UI) and affects middle aged women predominantly due to weakened support of the bladder by the pelvic floor and surrounding structures (Beji et al 2010). Damage to the pelvic floor and pelvic structures can cause the bladder and bladder neck to move or bend into problematic positions which adds unnecessary placement of external pressures on the bladder and in turn urine loss occurs (Badlani et al., 2009). The treatments available for treating SUI is behavioural changes, pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation or invasive surgeries. Pharmacological treatment options available for incontinence focus more on different subcategories of UI and has little effect on treating SUI directly and due to various side effects of these medications many patients avoid taking it (Shamilyan et al., 2012). There is currently no known effective treatment for SUI (ICS, 2013). SUI is the loss of small amounts or a few drops of urine at a time (Beers et al., 2006). Although the symptoms of this condition may not be life threatening it can interfere with the quality of life in those who suffer from loss of bladder control (Cheung et al., 2012). The negative effects can be seen in all areas physical activities, social activities, relationship strain and even emotional status of the patient (De Ridder et al, 2013). Many women report having SUI for several years and have learned to live with the incidents and use preventative methods when severity of SUI episodes worsen (Peterson, 2008). Additionally the symptom can be distressing on a physical level and consistent SUI episodes may cause recurrent urinary tract infections, irritation, pain and discomfort of the lower urinary tract (Beers et al., 2006). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the homoeopathic remedy Causticum 30cH on SUI episodes experienced by women by means of using a voiding diary and validated quality of life questionnaires. This was a five week double blind, placebo-controlled study, using forty female participants between the ages of 30-65 years old, and was conducted at a homoeopathic practice in Alberton, Johannesburg (Appendix B) under the supervision of a qualified homoeopath. There were three consultations, at the first consultation the study was explained and a full history taking and focused physical examination was conducted which included vital signs and a midstream urine dipstick test (Appendix E) to rule out any UTI. Participants were required to complete the QOLQ IIQ-7 SF (Appendix F) and the UDI-6 SF (Appendix G) (Uebersax et al., 1995). iii The first week no remedy was given (baseline week) and was followed by a four week treatment period. Participants had to complete a 7-day voiding diary (Appendix H) to evaluate symptom frequency for the duration of the study at home and were collected at the follow-up consultation after week three and week five. Participants were requested to complete the QOLQ IIQ-7 SF (Appendix F) and UDI-6 SF (Appendix G) (Uebersax et al., 1995) during the follow up consultations. Nocturnal voiding was also recorded on the voiding diaries. After week one the voiding diaries were collected and the participants were asked to select a remedy thereby, randomly allocating herself to either the experimental group or the control group. Data was collected and was analysed by STATKON. Frequencies, descriptives and crosstabulations were done for the demographic information between groups. Non-parametric test were utilized for the analysis because the sample size was small. The inter-group data analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney test to compare between the groups. Comparisons over time for each group were assessed using the Friedman test, and a Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was done to ascertain where in time the differences had occurred. The Bonferrani adjustment/correction test is a post-hoc test and was done after the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test which is an adjustment to the original p value and a re-evaluation of p value of the comparisons (Becker, 2013)...

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / Neck pain is a common condition usually experienced due to mechanical or degenerative problems (Colledge et al., 2010). The onset of neck pain may be acute and associated with asymmetrical restriction of neck movements and a history of awkward posture or sudden onset. Acute neck pain is an aching pain in the cervical paraspinal muscles and ligaments. It is associated with muscle spasm, stiffness and tightness in the upper back and shoulders that lasts up to six weeks. Headaches may be present (Bickley & Szilagyi, 2009). Causes of neck pain can be mechanical, inflammatory, metabolic, neoplastic, due to referred pain or other underlying aetiologies (Colledge et al., 2010). The most common treatments for neck pain are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy, chiropractic adjustment or therapeutic massage (Taylor, 2010). The NeuroTrac® MultiTENS device provides a non-invasive, drug-free method of controlling acute pain by transmitting mild electrical impulses via surface electrodes through the skin (Verity Medical Ltd., 2013). There have been many studies done on Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) devices, but little on its immediate effect on acute neck pain. The aim of this study was to determine the immediate effect of the NeuroTrac® MultiTENS device on acute neck pain, using the Neck Pain Disability Index, Visual Analogue Scale and the Cervical Range of Motion (CROM). This study was an unblinded, single-group experimental design (Brink, 2010). The study took place at the University of Johannesburg Campus Clinic. Recruitment took place by means of advertisements (Appendix H) placed at the University of Johannesburg campuses. Inclusion criteria consisted of males and females between the ages of eighteen to fifty years. Participants had to be suffering from aching pain in the cervical paraspinal muscles and ligaments with associated muscle spasm, stiffness and tightness in the upper back and shoulders that was present for more than one day and no longer than one week, with decreased range of motion on CROMs (Appendix G) and a minimum score of 10 on the Neck Pain Disability Index (Appendix D). Exclusion criteria consisted of participants suffering from severe headaches with meningeal signs associated nausea, blurred vision, photophobia and phonophobia or fever; a history of thrombus formation or transient ischaemic attack (Longmore et al., 2010); if they had a pacemaker or if they have had any head and neck surgery; if they suffered from cardiac arrhythmia or myocardial infarction; pregnancy or suspected pregnancy; if they had a general skin sensitivity or known allergy to adhesives or if they have had a recent chiropractic adjustment. A total of forty participants were selected. The participants acted as their own baseline control. The researcher was only required to see participants once for one forty minute session to determine the immediate vi effect of the NeuroTrac® MultiTENS device on acute neck pain. Participants were asked to fill in an Information (Appendix A) and Consent Form (Appendix B). Participants came in for an initial consult where a history was taken on the type of neck pain experienced and the cause of the pain experienced. Vital signs were recorded on a case taking form (Appendix C). Thereafter participants were asked to fill in the Vernon and Mior Neck Pain Disability Index (Appendix D) relating to the neck pain they experienced and to complete a Visual Analogue Scale to rate their neck pain (Appendix F). The CROM goniometer device was placed on the participant’s head to measure all cervical spine ranges of motion, to the limit of pain (Appendix G). All forty participants received treatment at a frequency of 90Hz with a 200μS pulse width with the electronic pads placed on the shoulders. NeuroTrac® MultiTENS device treatment was administered for forty minutes to the participants in a seated position. The treatment was administered by the researcher. Once the treatment ended, participants were asked to fill in an amended questionnaire (Appendix E) that assessed if they noticed a change in the neck pain they were experiencing, to complete the Visual Analogue Scale (Appendix F) and their vital signs were again recorded on a case taking form (Appendix C). The CROM goniometer device was again placed on the participant’s head to measure all cervical spine ranges of motion to assess if there was a change in the readings recorded (Appendix G). The data obtained was statistically analysed by the researcher with the aid of a statistician at Statkon. The Shapiro-Wilk test and the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test (non-parametric test) were used (Van Staden, 2014) ...

M.Tech.

Some species of sundew (Drosera spp.), harvested from the wild for use in homeopathic cold remedies, are now endangered. This research consisted of two experiments in hydroponic production of sundew. The first investigated the effects of four nitrogen (N) fertilization levels (0.0, 5.1, 25.5 or 51.0 mg/L added N) and three harvest methods (after two months, four months, and sequential harvest at two and four months) on the growth of Drosera adelae (F. Muell.). In addition, the effect of N on the production of a medicinal active ingredient in D. adelae was examined. The second experiment investigated effects of the same nitrogen treatments in combination with three substrates (long fiber sphagnum, peat or rockwool) on growth. The growth rate of D. adelae was greatest at low levels of nitrogen fertilization, and slowed after two months of growth. Plants that were sequentially harvested had the lowest growth rate among all the harvest method treatments. Young plants and plants that received little or no N fertilizer had a greater water concentration than the other plants. Substrate and N level interacted, but generally peat and rockwool produced greater yields than did sphagnum. The medicinal compound plumbagin and a similar but unidentified compound were detected in the leaf extracts of D. adelae. However, whether N fertilization influenced the concentration of these compounds remains inconclusive.

Herbal and homeopathic compounds have been used to aid in childbearing and pregnancy for centuries. Much of this information is anecdotal and lacks scientific support, making it difficult to evaluate safety and efficacy. Increased public interest in alternative treatments leads to the need for a systematic review on the topic. Herbal remedies are most often used to treat the most common pregnancy-related problems like nausea, stretch marks and varicose veins. In contrast to this, concerns have also been raised about the adverse effects of these remedies. The primary objective of this research project was to conduct a systematic review to assess the maternal and neonatal outcomes of ingested herbal and homeopathic remedies using during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements of the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2018. / Background : Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the inclination or compulsion to fall asleep whilst intending to stay awake; it is believed to negatively affect occupational and social functioning and may be a predisposition towards accidents (Hayley et al. 2014), low productivity and interpersonal problems (Fong et al. 2005). Excessive daytime sleepiness is one of the most common sleep-related symptoms and it affects an estimated 20% of the population (Pagel .2009). The causes of EDS are numerous and include intrinsic sleep disorders (e.g. narcolepsy, obstructive apnoea/ hypopnea syndrome, idiopathic hypersomnia), and extrinsic disorders (Banerjee et al. 2004). Sleep deprivation is probably the most common cause of excessive daytime sleepiness. This clinic trial intended to evaluate the effectiveness of a homoeopathic complex (Nux moschata D6, Phosphoricum acidum D30, Helliborus niger D6, Opium D30) in the management of EDS in terms of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (Johns, 1991) and Stanford Sleepiness Scale (Hoddes et al. 1973). And this randomised, double-blind placebo controlled study also aimed to provide a safe and effective alternative therapy for EDS. Aim of the study : The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a homoeopathic complex (Nux moschata D6, Phosphoricum acidum D30, Helliborus niger D6, Opium D30) and placebo in the management of EDS in terms of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS). Materials and Methodology : A sample group of 35 participants was selected voluntarily to conduct the study on basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The participants were than randomly divided into two groups; a treatment group consisting of 23 participants and a placebo group consisting of 12 participants. Each participant had to attend three consultations in total with the researcher over a period of four weeks at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Homoeopathic Day Clinic. At the first consultation a comprehensive case history (appendix F) was taken and physical examination (appendix E) was performed by the researcher but no medication was handed at that point. At each consultation the participants with the help of the researcher completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the seven days’ baseline Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) was handed to the participants at the first and second consultation which the participants completed without the help of the researcher throughout the trial till their last consultation. Results : Results from the two measuring tools were statistically analysed with SPSS version 24.0. the participant’s level of sleepiness improved in both the treatment group and the placebo group. Intra-group analyses of ESS means revealed that both groups improved significantly over time, intergroup ANOVA analysis however revealed no significant differences between the groups. Section analyses however using the Fisher’s Exact Tests did reveal statistically significant differences within certain variables at some points of the study. Intra-group analyses of SSS data revealed no statistically significant change in SSS scores over the three weeks in both the Homoeopathic Complex and the Placebo Groups, as well as the Inter-group Fischer’s Exact tests revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups. Conclusion : Barring a few exceptions described in Chapter 4 & 5 it can be concluded from the results of the study that statistically the Homoeopathic complex (Nux moschata D6, Phosphoricum acidum D30, Helliborus niger D6, Opium D30) was not superior to placebo in the treatment of EDS. The data shows that both the Homoeopathic Complex and the placebo interventions had a positive effect on EDS and were effective in improving the level of excessive daytime Sleepiness. Irrespective of the general lack of statistical significance between groups a closer analysis of the intragroup and inter-group data does reveal a trend suggesting clinical significance in support of the effectiveness of the homoeopathic complex in the treatment of EDS however this needs to be further explored and confirmed in subsequent studies. / M

M.Tech (Homoeopathy) / The aim of this study is to determine the influence of homoeopathically prepared Ginkgo Biloba 6X potency compared with that of phytotherapeutically prepared Ginkgo Biloba Extract; on the results of psychometric tests used to ascertain short-term memory loss in the geriatric subject. 21 elderly volunteers received; Ginkgo Biloba Extract (500mg), a homoeopathic 6X potency of Ginkgo Biloba and a placebo according to a double blind design. One hour after administration of the treatment, volunteers were subjected to psychometric testing namely the Reading Comprehension Test, which serves to assess the status of the short-term memory. No statistically significant changes from the placebo were observed in either of the groups. Adjusted scores for education and Mini Mental Status Exam scores however revealed a positive trend in favour of the homoeopathic 6X potency of Ginkgo Biloba Further evaluation with a larger study sample could provide more conclusive evidence as to its efficacy

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / Menopause is the natural or iatrogenic termination of menstrual periods as a result of decreasing ovarian function. Natural menopause begins when menstrual periods have been absent for one year (Beers et al., 2006). The Climacteric is the period which encompasses the transition from the reproductive state to the non-reproductive state. Menopause, therefore, is a specific event that takes place during the climacteric (Collins et al., 2010). The symptoms are usually treated conventionally with Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT), but a large number of adverse side-effects are associated with its use (Harvey and Champe., 2009). De Schepper (2001) states that the true Homoeopathic Similimum strengthens a person’s vital force which results in the improvement of disease symptoms. Barton (2008) states that it is very difficult to accurately find the Homoeopathic Similimum for each case; therefore, Grant Bentley and his team have worked to develop a system of analysis, to facilitate the identification of the Similimum for each case. The Grant Bentley Method requires photography of the face and analysis of the facial features necessary to ascertain the miasmatic category into which the participant falls (Barton, 2008). There is no research verifying the effectiveness of this method in the treatment of climacteric symptoms. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of the Homoeopathic Similimum, using the Grant Bentley-method, on Climacteric symptoms. The study was carried out in the form of case studies over a twelve week period. Eleven females, between the ages of forty and sixty-five years, who were experiencing climacteric symptoms and who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited, using purposive sampling, by placing advertisements (Appendix A) in local newspapers, pharmacies and medical practices in the Vanderbijlpark area and at the Doornfontein Campus of the University of Johannesburg. The process of the study was explained to the participants and consent forms were signed (Appendix C and D). Participants, with the researcher’s help, completed a Suitability Criteria Questionnaire (Appendix B). During the first consultation the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) (Appendix E and F) was completed and evaluated (Appendix G). The Homoeopathic case studies took the form of one-on-one conversations in order to complete a Case Taking Form (Appendix I) and incorporated a relevant physical examination and a Grant Bentley Evaluation of each participant’s facial features from which their miasmatic categories were determined (Appendix H). The participant’s case information was examined in accordance with the principles of homoeopathic classical prescribing, based on the entirety of symptoms. From this process the similimum was determined and given according to homoeopathic principles...

M.Tech. / This research was conducted to determine the efficacy of Choresan (R36) ® on children with “Specific Learning Disabilities”. Choresan (R36) ® is a complex homoeopathic formulation indicated for use in mild nervous disorders, physical restlessness, tics and spasms and muscular twitching (Dr. Reckeweg and Co. GMBH, 2009). Choresan (R36)® contains a combination of homoeopathic remedies that lend to usage for the symptomology associated with Specific Learning Disabilities. Specific Learning Disabilities are defined as a group of basic psychological processes which affect the understanding and use of language (written and spoken). Individuals present with an inability to learn as well as restlessness or hyperactivity (Webb, 2008). The management of Specific Learning Disabilities is two fold, namely education and scheduled drugs. The use of antipsychotic and stimulant drugs have problematic long term efficacy with adverse side effects (Matson and Neal, 2009). This study was conducted to determine if homoeopathic medicine may be able to suggest a safer, side effect free alternative.