Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / Provings are an essential element in the development of the homoeopathic medicine knowledge base and scope of practice. There are many South African indigenous plants and animals that can play a role in homoeopathy but need to be proved first. Several indigenous snake venoms have already been proved as homoeopathic remedies, so the proving of Dendroaspis angusticeps venom expands this particular knowledge base. Aim The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a homoeopathic dose of the venom of the Dendroaspis angusticeps on healthy individuals in order to elicit and document the resulting mental and physical symptomotology, so that it may be prescribed to those that require it based on the Law of Similars. The other aims of this study were to compare the proving symptoms of Dendroaspis angusticeps 30CH to the toxicology of Eastern Green Mamba venom and to analyze the remedy picture in relation to the doctrine of signatures. The thirtieth centesimal potency of the remedy was hypothesised to produce clearly observable signs and symptoms in provers (healthy volunteers). The symptoms obtained from the proving were also compared to the doctrine of signature analysis of Dendroaspis angusticeps to help clarify the nature of this snake and to expand the remedy picture of the substance and facilitate our understanding of the remedy in light of the toxicology of the venom and the doctrine of signatures. vii Methodology The homoeopathic proving of Dendroaspis angusticeps 30CH was carried out as a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. The proving population consisted of 30 provers. Twenty four of the provers were in the experimental group and they received the potentised snake venom. Six provers were in the control group and they received the placebo. As this was a double blind, placebo-controlled trial, neither the individuals taking part in the study nor the researcher had any knowledge of who received placebo or the active remedy. Provers were also unaware of the substance being proven or the potency in which it was prepared. Results Provers recorded their symptoms in a journal over a period of 5 weeks and were monitored regularly by the researcher. At the completion of the proving period, the researcher collected all the recorded data and each journal was assessed by the researcher to determine the suitability of the recorded symptoms. The symptoms were then translated into the language of the materia medica and the repertory and a remedy picture was formulated. Thereafter a comparison was made to the nature of the snake by means of the doctrine of signatures and the toxicology of the venom as an attempt to broaden the repertoire of our knowledge of the action of the remedy. Provers experienced a wide range of symptoms particularly on the mental and emotional spheres including feelings of powerful assertion and confidence; cheerful and excited energy; spiritual and prayerful feelings; seductive, sensual and extravagant mannerisms; desire to dance and heightened energy; clairvoyant natures and desires to be in nature as well as pronounced irritability, anger and sadness. Other symptoms included desire to be alone and withdrawn feelings; quarrelsome natures; desire to kill; deceitful ways; intolerance to injustice; poor concentration; thoughts of the past; confusion and antagonism of the will and anxious thoughts. Delusions, fears and thoughts of death also manifested in provers. There was a marked polarity of symptoms as: Anger, rage, irritability vs calmness / spirituality; Sadness / depression vs cheerfulness / joy; Poor concentration / forgetful vs mental power / mental clarity; Alone / withdrawn vs desire to be touched, caressed; and Prostration, exhaustion vs energetic. On the physical sphere there were marked symptoms produced in the head area with a wide range of headaches. Eye symptoms were also vast in the inflammation, heaviness and ptosis of the eyes. Throat symptoms manifested as pharyngitis and sore throat. Toxicological symptoms included vertigo, ptosis, pain in different areas, inflammation, vomiting, blurred vision, slurred speech, difficulty breathing and difficult swallowing. Back pain and lower back pain were also key symptoms. Sleep difficulties and sleepiness were experienced by provers. Dream symptoms were the most prevalent in this proving. Dreams were repetitive in provers in the dreams of changing places and being in many places and unfamiliar places. There were marked dreams of sexuality, death, spirituality, friendships, colours, snakes, weddings, fighting and killings and past recollections. Conclusion Dendroaspis angusticeps 30CH thus did produce clearly observable signs and symptoms in healthy volunteers as hypothesised. The correlation of the proving symptoms to the toxicology of the venom and the doctrine of signatures also illustrated the themes of this remedy and aided in development of the remedy picture for this new addition to the knowledge base of indigenous South African substances and their homoeopathic application. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 2001. / The purpose of this study was to analyse and compare the NMR spectra ofa homoeopathic remedy (in this case Natrum muriaticum was used for its easy solubility and purity), that was prepared in the classical single vial Hahnemannian method, and also the widely used multi-vial Korsakovian method. Comparison was made in terms of the chemical shift (8) and relative integration values of the CH3, CH2, H20, and OH signals. A control was employed for both methods. The only difference between control and test remedies was the actual inclusion ofNatrum muriaticum in the latter, and the same weight of solvent as solute in the former. Comparison was made between both test methods, between test and control, and between the two controls. It was hypothesized that the method of dilution plays an important part in the potentisation process, and thus becomes part of the remedy's information content. The evolution of distinct physicochemical identities was hypothesized to occur specific to each method in ascending potency levels. Differences were therefore also hypothesized to exist between both methods at parallel potency levels in terms of chemical shift and relative integration values. The experiment was conducted as per the limitations of the scientific method. Both methods and their controls of Natrum muriaticum were potentised to the 9C, 30C, and 200C potency levels. They were prepared in 16ml volumes and transported to the NMR spectroscopy laboratory in Pietermaritzburg for analysis. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2002. / The purpose of this study was to investigate whether frequency strength is a parameter requiring consideration when conducting NMR spectroscopy studies on hornoeopathic potencies. To this end, samples of Sulphur 30CH and a Lactose control were analysed using NMR spectrometers operating at three different frequency strengths of 80MHz, 200.MHz and 500.MHz. It was hypothesized that differences existed in the spectra of respective Sulphur samples, control samples, and between parallel samples of Sulphur and control. It was further hypothesized that differences between parallel samples of Sulphur and control would be more noticeable at the lower frequencies. This hypothesis was based on the assumption that a higher frequency strength would have more intense resonance effects on the structure of the homoeopathic potency, thereby disturbing the micro-structural changes induced during potentisation. The design of the investigation was that of a scientific experiment. Potencies of Sulphur and a lactose-based control were prepared to a 30CH potency each, in 87% ethanol. The final prepared volumes (10ml) of Sulphur and control were blinded by means of colour codes by a third party prior to analysis. The blinded samples were transported to the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, where they were subjected to analysis using the following instruments: 1) A Varian FT80A 80.MHz instrument 2) A Varian Gemini 200MHz instrument 3) A Varian Inova 500.MHz instrument At each instrument NMR spectroscopy was conducted on ten (10) samples from each group (Sulphur and control). The samples were prepared in coaxial tubes using acetone as both an external lock and reference, and NMR spectra were recorded for each sample. All the samples were run at a thermostatically controlled temperature of 24\xB0C (\xB1 O,2\xB0C), and the laboratory was maintained at a constant temperature of 22\xB0C. The spectra and data of all the samples were recorded in terms of the chemical shift and integration values of their respective CH2, H20 and OH signals. / M

A mini-dissertation in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2002. / The purpose of this study was to compare the amount of caffeine extracted from triturated samples and ethanolic samples of Coffea tosta using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) as a method of analysis. The study wanted to expand on homoeopathic pharmaceutical knowledge, specifically looking at the two methods of remedy preparation of plant materials. From the same batch of ground roasted coffee beans, using the decimal scale of dilution, the mother tincture (bill) and the first triturated (bill) samples were prepared. The subsequent 2xH and 3xH triturated and ethanolic potencies were then made in accordance with homoeopathic methodology. Each group contained three different dilution levels (bill, 2xH and 3xH), 18 samples per group giving a total of36 samples that were analysed using HPLC. Three samples were analysed from the three dilution levels in each Group, in total there were 18 samples from the triturated group and 18 from the ethanolic group. . The samples were analysed quantitatively using the highly accurate and advanced method of high pressure liquid chromatography. This method gives accurate readings of the caffeine concentrations of a sample compared to a caffeine standard. This allowed for quantification of the caffeine concentration of each sample. The percentage caffeine was calculated from each sample. The aim of the study was to evaluate the difference in each method of preparation by measuring the amount of caffeine extracted from the samples. The results obtained from the inter-Group Mann-Whitney and ANOVA tests showed that there was a significant difference between the ethanolic dilutions and triturated dilutions with regards to the 1xH and 2xH dilutions. In the 1xH dilution the ethanolic method retained / M

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements of the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homeopathy, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / INTRODUCTION: The idea of the memory of water arose in the laboratory of immunologist, Jacques Benveniste in the late 1980s where his research into allergies took him deeper intotrying to find out how the smallest amount of a substance could affect an organism. He experimented with Homeopathy by using highly diluted antibodies in his basophil degranulation test. He observed that highly dilute biological agents were still able to trigger the relevant biological system. (Thomas, 2007) The memory of water is a controversial topic that requires more research to be properly understood and as such, it is the researcher’s aim to gain insight on the memory of water. METHODOLOGY: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect that the preparation of a Homeopathic remedy (Natrum muriaticum) has on water, as its solvent, using the glass stain analysis as outlined by Kroplin (2001). The possible ability of water to hold and store the memory of its solute, sodium chloride, was investigated. The results would be added to the critical reflection on current literature available. In an experimental double blind study, Kroplin’s glass stain method was used to analyse the following:  The mother solution samples.  The 9CH potency samples (within Avogadro’s constant).  The 30CH potency samples (past Avogadro’s constant).  As well as the water sample used to make the remedy as the control. The above four samples were supplied from the following two manufacturers:  Durban University of Technology (DUT) manufactured by the researcher (appendix 2).  Samples manufactured by one commercial homeo-pharmaceutical company, ParcevalPharmaceuticals (appendix 3). This research aimed to investigate, using homeo-pharmaceutical principles (dilution and succussion), the structural influence of a solute on water after the solution is diluted beyond Avogadro’s constant. Repetition of the 5 experiment in week six aimed to investigate the validity of expiry time proposed by the homeopathicpharmacopoeia. RESULTS:  The stained picture patterns took on a consistent form of a starry night and the ‘stars’ seemed to increase in mass with potentisation suggesting that the homeopathic remedy manufacture process affects the outcome of the water’s form.  Overall consistency in picture patterns between both experimenters suggesting minimal observer effect.  The experiment was repeated to test expiry date and these pictures displayed degradation and thus seemed to offer validation towards homeopathic remedy expiration.  Although abstract qualitative results, a notable difference in water control and potentised water samples offer enough evidence for further investigations. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2002. / The purpose of this study was to analyse and compare the NMR spectra of homoeopathic Sulphur (the most well-known and often tested homoeopathic remedy) in two commonly used potencies, namely the centesimal (CH) and decimal (DH) potencies. Both potencies were prepared according to the Hahnemannian method. In order to assess the differences and similarities between these two potency scales, remedies with the same levels of deconcentration, and remedies with the same numbers of succussions were tested. The Control substance used was Water-Ethanol 87% without lactose or Sulphur. The Control substance was prepared in the same way as the Sulphur i.e. potentised as the Sulphur. Chemical shift and relative integration values of the H20, OH and CH2 peaks were recorded, calculated and compared. The investigation was designed as a scientific experiment. Firstly, the Sulphur remedies were compared to the Controls. Secondly, Sulphur remedies were compared to Sulphur remedies, and Controls to Controls. The following criteria were used: o Equal deconcentrations of the centesimal scale were compared to their equivalent decimal scale. o Equal numbers of succussions of the centesimal scale were compared to their equivalent decimal scale. The following potencies were assessed for both Sulphur and Control (Water-Ethanol): / M

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy) - Dept. of Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 xviii, 122 leaves / This study was designed to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of Withania somnifera and Xysmalobium undulatum plant tinctures in 62% ethanol in inhibiting the in vitro growth of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy)-Dept. of Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 1 v. (various pagings) ; 30 cm / The purpose of this investigation was to analyse and compare the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra of potencies of Natrum muriaticum 15CH prepared by trituration and succussion, and Natrum muriaticum 15CH prepared by succussion alone. It was hypothesized that in terms of the effect of trituration (or not) of these substances that significant differences exist between the chemical shift and relative integration values of the CH2, CH3, H2O and OH signals of these homoeopathic substances. It was further hypothesized that the process of trituration plays an integral part in the development of distinct physicochemical identities in the potencies mentioned above.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy)-Dept. of Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 xiv, 93 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm / The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of a water-based extraction of Hydrastis canadensis on the in vitro growth of Candida albicans and Escheria coli, to a control of distilled water in terms of the size of the zones of inhibition in the disc diffusion assay and turbidity of growth in the tube dilution method. These results were compared to the results obtained from similar experiments using an ethanol-based tinctures of Hydrastis canadensis.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy)-Dept. of Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 xxiii, 120 leaves ; 30 cm / This double-blind, placebo controlled study evaluated the effectiveness of Selenium sulphide 12X in the management of dandruff, as measured by a Visual Analogue Scale.