Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements of
the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / The homoeopathic drug proving of Strychnos henningsii 30CH took the form of a
mixed-method triple-blind, placebo-controlled study. The purpose of the study was
to compare the results of the triple-blind homoeopathic drug proving with the
toxicology of the crude substance.
Methodology
Thirty-two provers were selected and randomly divided into four equal groups of 8
provers, with each group supervised by one of four M.Tech.Hom student
researchers. Fifty percent of the subjects (16 or the 32) received placebo in a
random manner. Provers recorded their state in journals for one week prior to
commencing the verum/ placebo powders. Data was extracted from journals and
combined with case histories, physical examinations to compile the proving
profile. The data derived from journals and case histories were edited and collated
and thereafter reformatted and classified according to standard materia medica
and repertory conventions. This constituted the homoeopathic remedy picture
which was then compared to the toxicity of the major chemical constituents of
Strychnos henningsii by qualitative methods.
Results
Provers produced symptoms on the mental, physical and emotional levels. There
was a distinct similarity between the toxicology of Strychnos henningsii in its
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crude form, and a majority of the symptomatology obtained during the proving.
The comparison of Strychnos henningsii proving symptoms and that of the crude
substance was demonstrated by the proving symptoms showing similarity with the
chemical constituents of the bark. The bark contained alkaloids which
demonstrated similar symptoms in poisonings as described by the provers. The
alkaloids found in the Strychnos henningsii bark were strychnine, diaboline,
holstiine, strychnochromine and guianensine.
Conclusions
This homeopathic proving of Strychnos henningsii allowed for successful
comparison between the alkaloids contained in the bark and the proving
symptomatology.
Notwithstanding the successful comparison and noted levels of overlap, it was
observed that prior knowledge of homeopathy was beneficial to the provers.
Furthermore, the researcher argues that the triple blind method employed is
effective, but may hinder the researcher during analysis and that it is important
that toxicological information about any substance should be obtained before a
proving commences.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:dut/oai:localhost:10321/600 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Lockhat, Irfana |
| Contributors | Ross, Ashley Hilton Adrian |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 206 p |
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