Return to search

The relative and combined efficacy of the homoeopathic similimum (taken orally) and the topical application of a lotion (prepared from the homoeopathic mother tinctures of Hypericum perforatum and Calendula officinalis) in the treatment of venous leg ulcers

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy)-Dept. of Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2006
xxxiii, 112 leaves : ill. / The purpose of this double-blind placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the relative and combined efficacy of the homoeopathic similimum, taken orally, and the topical application of a lotion made from the homoeopathic mother tinctures of Hypericum perforatum and Calendula officinalis in the treatment of venous leg ulcers.

Venous hypertension in the lower limb, occurring from a variety of causes, leads to microcirculatory abnormalities which may permit the formation of a chronic ulcer (Zimmet,
1998). Venous leg ulcers are a cause of much debility, social isolation, depression, fears of
loss of employment and income (Royal College of Nursing Institute, 1998).

The mainstay of treatment at present is compression bandaging to reduce the venous
pressure in the lower limb. Eighty percent of venous leg ulcers will heal within eight to
twelve weeks with compression bandaging (Thomas, 1997).

Homoeopathy is a system of medicine based on natural laws of healing, and recognizes
the biophysical energy of an individual (also known as the vital force) as that which provides
the normal protective defence mechanisms of the body, and is disturbed in disease,
producing symptoms on the physical, mental and emotional levels (Vithoulkas, 1980).
Many plants are known to have wound-healing properties (Curtis and Fraser, 2003).
Calendula officinalis and Hypericum perforatum were considered the best plants in a homoeopathic lotion to be used on chronic venous leg ulcers, as they cover all the common problems associated with this type of wound, providing pain relief and anti-microbial activity (Lawless, 1995). In this study, homoeopathic mother tinctures of the herbs were used to make the lotion for topical application to the wounds.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:dut/oai:localhost:10321/73
Date January 2006
CreatorsHoffmann, Delia
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis

Page generated in 0.0019 seconds