A HOMOEOPATHIC DRUG PROVING OF THE 
VENOM OF BITIS GABONICA GABONICA 
 
                  
 
 
A MINI-DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL COMPLIANCE WITH 
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MASTERS DEGREE IN TECHNOLOGY: 
HOMOEOPATHY AT THE DURBAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. 
 
I HEREBY DECLARE THAT THIS MINI-DISSERTATION REPRESENTS MY 
OWN WORK BOTH IN CONCEPT AND EXECUTION. 
 
 
Student:________________________________Date:__________ 
(Bruce Thomson) 
 
APPROVED FOR EXAMINATION 
 
Supervisor:_____________________________Date:__________ 
Dr Ashley Ross M.Tech.Hom (TN) B.Mus (UCT) 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This proving is dedicated to the Glory of God and to all the volunteers who 
gave so selflessly of their time and comfort to advance the cause of 
Homoeopathy.
 ii 
 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None of this would have been possible without the support of Paula, my wife, 
who always has more faith in me than I do. 
 
I would like to thank  Dr Ashley Ross for all his guidance, good advice and 
inspiration through the years. 
 
And finally to all “those who have gone before”, the homoeopaths who did all 
the hard work and cut the path that we all walk today.
 iii 
 
ABSTRACT 
 
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of the thirtieth 
centesimal (30CH) potency of the venom of Bitis gabonica gabonica on 
healthy individuals in order to elucidate the total morbid symptomatology 
produced by the drug so that it may be prescribed by Homoeopathic 
practitioners according to the Law of Similars, as is required by Homoeopathic 
methodology. It was hypothesized that the 30CH potency of Bitis gabonica 
gabonica would produce clearly observable signs and symptoms in healthy 
Provers. 
 
The homoeopathic drug proving of the venom of Bitis gabonica gabonica 
30CH took the form of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on twenty 
subjects who all met the inclusion criteria. Five of the twenty subjects received 
placebo in a randomized fashion, so that neither the provers nor the 
researcher knew who had received placebo or verum. As an added control the 
provers were unaware of the substance or the potency they were proving. 
 
Data collection was via the journals that the provers kept in order to record 
their daily symptoms - data was later extracted from these journals. Data 
recorded by the researcher from case histories and physical examination was 
also considered. 
  
The study design was a single group with placebo control as well as intra-
individual control - the prover serves as his or her own control by recording 
their state before the drug is taken; this serves as a baseline for comparison 
to their later state under the influence of the proving substance. 
 
The remedies main area of influence is the mental and emotional state. The 
most prominent symptom was the isolation, a sense of being alone, forsaken 
 iv 
or a desire to be alone. Overall there is a feeling of social detachment, of 
being an „outsider‟. This and other aspects of the remedy reflect the „Divided‟ 
nature of the snake remedies. They feel panicked and as if they are under 
threat, like most snake remedies. They have a delusion that they are divided, 
that body and mind are divided, that they are separated from themselves in 
some way. Headaches were very common. They tended to be left sided, 
mainly in forehead and temples and tended to refer to the eyes, notably 
though the neck was also affected. Other areas of note are the Nose, 
Stomach and Generals. 
 
It can be concluded that the 30Ch potency of the venom of Bitis gabonica 
gabonica (Bit-g) is a remedy that should be considered in a range of 
conditions. If used accurately and precisely according to established 
Homoeopathic principles it could become a significant remedy in the clinical 
environment. The wide range of symptoms produced by the proving suggests 
an equally wide range of application for the remedy. 
 
Further provings and data from clinical experience are needed to confirm this 
remedy as a useful tool for the homoeopath in clinical practice.  
 v 
THE DEFINITION OF TERMS 
 
 
LAW OF SIMILARS - "Similia Similibus Curentur", the fundamental law of 
Homoeopathy, formulated by Hahnemann. Meaning: let likes be cured (or 
treated) by likes (Gaier 1991:323). Any substance that can produce a totality 
of symptoms in a healthy human being can cure that totality of symptoms in a 
sick human being (Vithoulkas 1986:92). 
 
PROVING - the systematic procedure of testing substances on healthy human 
beings in order to elucidate the symptoms which reflect the action of the 
substance (Vithoulkas 1986:96). 
From the German 'Prufung', meaning test or assay (Gaier 1991: 390). 
 
PROVERS - people of average health (who) take repeated doses of drugs 
until objective or subjective symptoms of a disturbance appear (Whitmont 
1991:15). 
 
PLACEBO - a 'dummy' treatment administered to the control group in a 
controlled clinical trial in order that the specific and non-specific effects of the 
experimental treatment can be distinguished (Taylor et al 1988:1298). In this 
study the placebo will take the form of unmedicated lactose pillules. 
 
POTENCY - the stage of altered remedial activity to which a drug has been 
taken by means of a measured process of deconcentration, with succussion, 
or by trituration, of the medicinal substance, which is thus brought to a state of 
infinitesimal subdivision (Gaier 1991:432). 
 
THIRTIETH CENTESIMAL POTENCY (30CH) - the 30th step of serial 
deconcentration on a 1:100 scale with succussion (agitation) at each step, 
having an effective concentration of 1x10-60 . 
 iv 
The Definition of Terms 
 
 
LAW OF SIMILARS - "Similia Similibus Curentur", the fundamental law of 
Homoeopathy, formulated by Hahnemann. Meaning: let likes be cured (or 
treated) by likes (Gaier 1991:323). Any substance that can produce a totality of 
symptoms in a healthy human being can cure that totality of symptoms in a sick 
human being (Vithoulkas 1986:92). 
 
PROVING - the systematic procedure of testing substances on healthy human 
beings in order to elucidate the symptoms which reflect the action of the 
substance (Vithoulkas 1986:96). 
From the German 'Prufung', meaning test or assay (Gaier 1991: 390). 
 
PROVERS - people of average health (who) take repeated doses of drugs until 
objective or subjective symptoms of a disturbance appear (Whitmont 1991:15). 
 
PLACEBO - a 'dummy' treatment administered to the control group in a 
controlled clinical trial in order that the specific and non-specific effects of the 
experimental treatment can be distinguished (Taylor et al 1988:1298). In this 
study the placebo will take the form of unmedicated lactose pillules. 
 
POTENCY - the stage of altered remedial activity to which a drug has been 
taken by means of a measured process of deconcentration, with succussion, or 
by trituration, of the medicinal substance, which is thus brought to a state of 
infinitesimal subdivision (Gaier 1991:432). 
 
THIRTIETH CENTESIMAL POTENCY (30CH) - the 30th step of serial 
deconcentration on a 1:100 scale with succussion at each step, having an 
effective concentration of 1x10-60. 
 
 vi 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
              PAGE 
DEDICATION         i 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS       ii 
ABSTRACT         iii 
DEFINITION OF TERMS       v 
TABLE OF CONTENTS       vi 
 
1  THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING                  
1.1 The Statement of the Problem                           1 
1.2 The Hypothesis                               1                       
1.3 The Delimitations                                                1 
1.4 The Assumptions                              1                      
 
2 THE REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 
2.1 Introduction          3 
2.2 Background                      3                                       
2.3 Proving Methodologies       5 
2.4 Potency Choice       6 
2.5 Prover Population and Percentage Placebo   7 
2.6 Bitis gabonica gabonica      8 
2.6.1 Classification       8 
2.6.2 Distinguishing Characteristics      8          
                  
                     
 vii 
3 THE DATA: TREATMENT AND INTERPRETATION 
3.1 The Experimental Design                     11                      
3.2 An Outline of the Method                       11                   
3.3 The Proving Substance                          13                   
3.3.1 The Potency        13 
3.3.2 The Dose and Posology        13 
3.3.3 Preparation and Dispensing of the Remedy    13  
3.4 The Duration                                   14                            
3.5 The Prover Population        14 
3.5.1 Criteria for Inclusion in the proving    14 
3.5.2 Monitoring of the Provers        15 
3.5.3 Chronology                        16                                     
3.6 Group Discussion                  16                                        
3.7 Symptom Collection, Extraction and Evaluation    16 
3.7.1 Criteria for acceptance of a symptom   17 
3.8 Collating and Editing       18 
3.9 Toxicological Data        18 
3.10 Reporting the Data         19 
3.10.1 The Repertory       19 
3.10.2 The Materia Medica       19 
      
 viii 
4 THE MATERIA MEDICA AND REPERTORY OF BITIS                        
GABONICA GABONICA 
4.1 Key         20 
4.2 Materia Medica        21 
4.2.1 Mind         21 
4.2.2 Vertigo        34 
4.2.3 Head         35 
4.2.4 Eyes         41 
4.2.5 Ear         44 
4.2.6 Nose         45 
4.2.7 Face        51 
4.2.8 Mouth         53 
4.2.9 Throat        54 
4.2.10  External throat      56 
4.2.11  Stomach        56 
4.2.12 Abdomen        59 
4.2.13 Rectum        61 
4.2.14 Urine        62 
4.2.15 Female Genitalia/Sex      63 
4.2.16 Respiration       65 
4.2.17 Chest        65 
4.2.18 Back        67 
4.2.19 Extremities       69 
4.2.20 Sleep        71 
4.2.21 Dreams        74 
4.2.22 Skin        77 
4.2.23 Generals       77 
4.2.24 Toxicology       81 
 
 ix 
4.3 Rubrics         83 
4.3.1 Mind        83 
4.3.2 Vertigo        88 
4.3.3 Head         88 
4.3.4 Eyes         92 
4.3.5 Ear         93 
4.3.6 Nose         94 
4.3.7 Face         95 
4.3.8 Mouth        96 
4.3.9 Throat        97 
4.3.10 External throat       98 
4.3.11 Stomach        98 
4.3.12 Abdomen        98 
4.3.13 Rectum        99 
4.3.14 Kidneys                100 
4.3.15 Urine                100 
4.3.16 Female Genitalia/Sex              100 
4.3.17 Respiration               101 
4.3.18 Chest                102 
4.3.19 Back                102 
4.3.20 Extremities               103 
4.3.21 Sleep                104 
4.3.22 Dreams                105 
4.3.23 Skin                106 
4.3.24 Generals               106 
 
 x 
5 DISCUSSION 
5.1 Discussion                108 
5.2 Symptom Overview               109 
5.3 Repertorization for Related Remedies            113 
5.4 Other Considerations              113 
 
6 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
6.1 Conclusions                114 
6.2 Recommendations               114 
6.2.1 Further provings                    114 
6.2.2 Comparative studies              114 
6.2.3 Clinical information              115 
6.2.4 Development of a Southern African Materia Medica  115 
 
REFERENCES               117 
 
APPENDICES AND GRAPHS 
 Appendix A: Suitability fo Inclusion in the Proving 
 Appendix B: Informed Consent Form 
 Appendix C: Case History 
 Appendix D: Instructions to Provers 
 Appendix E: Graph – Symptom Distribution 
 Appendix F: Graph – Relative Prover Contribution 
 Appendix G: Repertorization 
 
 
 
 
 1 
CHAPTER 1-THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING 
1.1 THE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of the thirtieth 
centesimal (30CH) potency of the venom of Bitis gabonica gabonica on healthy 
individuals in order to elucidate the total morbid symptomatology produced by 
the drug so that it may be prescribed by Homoeopathic practitioners according 
to the Law of Similars, as is required by Homoeopathic methodology. 
 
1.2 THE HYPOTHESIS 
It was hypothesized that the 30CH potency of Bitis gabonica gabonica would 
produce clearly observable signs and symptoms in healthy Provers. 
 
1.3 THE DELIMITATIONS 
The study did not: 
 Seek to explain the mechanism of action of the homoeopathic 
preparation in producing the symptoms in healthy individuals. 
 Determine the effects of potencies other than the thirtieth centesimal. 
 Seek to perform multi-centre trials of the drug. 
 
1.4 THE ASSUMPTIONS 
 The remedy was accurately prepared according to the standards of the 
German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia (1991:255,289) for the 
preparation of other snake venoms (for example: Lachesis muta, Naja 
naja) and that this was the correct method for this venom. 
 2 
 The provers took the remedy in the dosage, frequency and manner 
required. 
 The provers conscientiously and closely observed themselves for the 
effects of the drug. 
 The provers conscientiously, accurately and honestly recorded all 
symptoms so observed. 
 The provers did not deviate from their normal lifestyle or dietary habits in 
a significant manner before or during the proving. 
 3 
 
CHAPTER 2 - REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 
2.1 INTRODUCTION 
The extension of the Homoeopathic Materia Medica by proving new drugs is 
one of the three centres of homoeopathic research as described by Cook 
(1989:93). The other two are Proving the efficacy of remedies and Research 
into how Homoeopathy works. Provings are fundamental to homoeopathic 
practice; they are the only way to predict the remedial actions of any drug with 
any degree of accuracy (Little 1998:1).  Jan Scholten has attempted to predict 
the effect of simple compounds based on their chemical composition by 
extrapolation from existing knowledge of other remedies and by analysing 
remedies in groups (e.g. the Ferrum group of metals, or the Acids, or the 
Carbonicums) and looking for commonalities (Scholten 1993:23) but it is not 
easy (assuming his method is valid) to make such predictions for very complex 
substances such as snake venoms. 
 
The import of continually adding to the list of available remedies is clear when 
one realizes that a well-proven remedy will be able to help in a range of cases 
that until then could only have been partially covered by the remedies at hand. 
Nothing can take the place of that remedy in the therapeutic context (Sherr 
1994:8-9). 
 
2.2 BACKGROUND 
The concept of testing of potential drug substances on healthy persons was 
systematized by Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), the founder of 
Homoeopathy. It was primarily his investigation of the mechanism of action of 
Cinchona bark (Quinine) in 1790 that lead him to develop this new system of 
medicine and systematize the proving method that underpins it (Walach 
1997:219). In translating Cullen‟s A Treatise on Materia Medica from the 
 4 
English he found himself in disagreement with the author's explanation of the 
drugs curative action in the treatment of Malaria. He decided to take large 
quantities of the drug and observed that he developed symptoms of Malaria that 
stopped once he had stopped taking the drug. Several years of further 
investigation led him to formulate the „Law of Similars‟ - one of the fundamental 
principles of Homoeopathy - that he published in his essay New Principles for 
Ascertaining the Curative Power of Drugs (Cook 1989:8). 
 
Provings are the logical extension of the law of similars - an idea known in the 
West at least as far back as Hippocrates in ancient times (Walach 1994:129). 
Galen in the 2nd Century A.D. tested his medicines on the sick and on the 
healthy. Paracelsus in the 16th Century observed the effect of substances on 
healthy people to determine their therapeutic properties, but neither he nor 
Galen undertook these activities systematically (Coulter 1975:442). In the East 
the court of Emperor Shen Nung is thought to have seen the first known 
provings of remedial agents on healthy people, circa 3000BC (Little 1998:1). 
Hahnemann probably took his lead from Paracelsus but he also offers credit to 
the efforts of Albrecht Von Haller (1708-1777), who in the preface to the 
Pharmacopoeia Helvet (1771) proposed the testing of pure medicines on the 
healthy and then applying the results to the sick (Little 1998:1). He further gives 
credit to the likes of Anton Storck (1731-1803), Alexander, Menghini and 
Fontana who all experimented with the method before him (Walach 1994:129; 
Stephenson 1960:47-49). 
 
 
Hahnemann, with his various disciples and acolytes, investigated about 140 
remedies in the course of his career (Wieland 1997:229). The fervour of his 
followers produced vast amounts of proving data that were collated in the 
Materia Medicas of Allen in 1874 and Hering in 1892 (Demarque 1987). 
 
 5 
2.3 PROVING METHODOLOGIES 
The reliability of most of these early provings has been called into question 
especially as they were largely uncontrolled (Fisher 1995). However, the 
concept of controls is not a recent introduction to homoeopathy. For example 
blinding was introduced into Homoeopathic provings in 1843 by Gerstel when 
he was proving Aconitum napellus  (i.e the provers were unaware of what they 
were proving). Bellows introduced the double-blind technique in 1906 when 
reproving Atropa belladonna (i.e. provers unaware of what substance they are 
taking and observer does not know who has been given what) (Demarque 
1987). The double-blind placebo controlled proving method has become the 
method of choice in recent years (Vithoulkas 1986;Nagpaul 1987).  Raesides 
treble-blind technique (1972) has been used by both Sherr (1994) and Riley 
(1995a,b) (i.e. there is a placebo control, the observer is blind and the 
substance is unknown to both prover and observer). 
 
There has been much debate about the best protocols to be used for provings. 
The growth in interest in provings and the need to present a consistent front to a 
sceptical scientific community has led to attempts to develop general guidelines  
and minimum standards for drug proving protocols, such as the effort by the 
Drug Provings Group of the European Committee for Homoeopathy at five  
symposia since 1992 (Wieland 1997:231). The aim is to produce a scientific 
standard for good homoeopathic drug provings (Wieland 1997:229). 
 
Walach (1997:223) has suggested that an attempt at quantitative analysis of the 
raw data is required as opposed to the traditional qualitative analysis, not to 
negate qualitative analysis, but in order to further the scientific debate and 
clarify the foundations of homoeopathy. Nonetheless, as Wieland (1997:230) 
points out, the purpose of the proving is primarily to generate symptoms of 
quality not quantity. 
 
 
 6 
Of note in terms of contribution to the literature on proving methodology are the 
following authors: Vithoulkas (1986:143-156) in a chapter of his Science of 
Homeopathy; Demarque (1987); Nagpaul (1987); Bodman (1987); Koppers 
(1987); Sherr in his Dynamics and Methodology of Homoeopathic Provings 
(1994) (providing probably the best structure on which to plan a proving); Riley 
(1996,1997) has further contributed to developments in the field. 
 
2.4 POTENCY CHOICE 
Raeside (1964) used the 6X, 6CH and 30CH to prove Hirudo medicinalis and 
noted that most symptoms appeared at the 30CH and least at 6X. Koppers 
(1987) used a range from mother tincture to the 30CH and found that the latter 
produced the widest range and most peculiar symptoms as well as effecting 
mental changes. He subsequently used only the 30CH, confirming 
Hahnemanns position. Sherr (1994) found the 30CH to produce the most 
mental/emotional symptoms in his proving of Hydrogen. Walach et al (1995) 
compared the effects of Belladonna 30CH and 12CH in healthy volunteers and 
found the 30CH to be more effective. Vithoulkas holds that, ideally, a remedy 
must be proven in both low and high potencies, the toxicological data noted and 
the study carried out in three different locations with provers of different 
nationalities before it can be said to have been fully proven (1986:147-150). 
This, however, takes many provers and much time to complete and is beyond 
the resources of most. Sherr (1994) states that it is as valid to use one potency 
only, such as 30CH, or a single dose of 1M. 
 
“Any drug which in its natural state disturbs the bioenergy to destructive 
manifestations should be proven only in a dynamized form” (Gaier 1991:267). 
That is to say they should be rendered safe by serial deconcentration and 
succussion. This drug, being a snake venom, should therefore be proven in a 
high potency (Roberts 1993:139). Roberts explains further that the reason for 
this is that, if used in too low a potency (less than 6CH) or in crude form, the 
outstanding symptoms are likely to be the result of mechanical disturbances 
 7 
and characteristic symptoms do not come to the fore because they are 
outshone by the gross symptomatology. 
 
Paragraph 128 of the Organon (Hahnemann 1992:111) states that the 30CH 
potency be used for provings. This position was endorsed by Kent (1990:221) 
once the Homoeopathic Society of Vienna had tested this potency in reprovings 
of Hahnemanns remedies and found that it produced the strongest results.  
 
2.5 PROVER POPULATION AND PERCENTAGE PLACEBO 
There is much variability in the number of provers used and the percentage of 
provers who get placebo in the literature.  
 
Walach argues against the necessity for using placebo controls, saying they are 
invalid in the proving context – he says that there are so many variables at play 
in the development of symptoms that only parallel group provings with very 
large numbers (several hundred) could have a chance of controlling the 
variables (1994:130). One might argue that it is the very existance of all those 
variables that makes the use of placebo essential. 
 
Hahnemann used 60+ provers in his early trials, with no controls, but modern 
re-provings have not shown any inaccuracy in his results. Large numbers have 
been used in some provings - such as the 226 used for the proving of Arsenic 
(Demarque 1987). Sherr has found the use of 100 provers or more to be too 
much because it results in the remedy being inflated out of proportion to the 
others. He feels that 15-20 will produce a very full remedy picture. He has 
adopted a policy of using 10-20% of the provers as placebo controls (1994). 
Raeside used 15-20 provers of whom one third received placebo (1972). Royal 
suggests 10 as a minimum (1991) while Vithoulkas (1986:151-152) suggests 
50-100 with 25% placebo control. Nagpaul (1987) suggests 20-30 provers with 
25-30% placebo control. 
 8 
 
2.6 THE PROVING SUBSTANCE: BITIS GABONICA GABONICA 
2.6.1 CLASSIFICATION (FITZSIMONS 1980:190-191) 
Group: Solenoglypha 
Family: Viperidae 
Genus: Bitis 
Species: gabonica gabonica 
Common: Gaboon viper, Butterfly adder 
 
2.6.2 DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS 
The Gaboon viper is the largest and most beautifully marked of the African 
adders and by bulk the largest viper in the world. Adults average 120cm in 
length, but specimens of up to 2m are found. There are two races of Bitis 
gabonica described in terms of their morphology and geographic distribution: 
the variant found in West Africa, Bitis rhinoceros, has a pair of horns on the 
snout and keeled scales, while the East  and Southern African variant, Bitis 
gabonica gabonica. The colouration of the two variants is the same as is the 
composition of the venom (Marsh et al:764). 
 
Colouration is as follows: - on the body is a ground of rich brown to purple, 
superimposed on which is a series of quadrangular yellow to buff markings over 
the middle of the back with brown interspaces; the head is pale buff to chestnut 
with a dark median line; underparts are yellowish and the eyes are silvery grey. 
 
For the most part the Gaboon viper is found in the moister rainforest areas 
where its camouflage is adapted to the dappled light of the forest floor. It is said 
to be very sluggish and can strike swiftly when provoked, as with other adders 
(FitzSimons 1980:190). However, that it is nocturnal and conceals itself during 
the day (Marsh et al 1997:764) and is considered rather docile in temperament 
must account for the short list of victims, since a bite from Bitis gabonica is 
 9 
invariably rapidly fatal due to the quantity of and depth to which the venom is 
injected by the massive fangs - see below (Visser & Chapman 1978:35-36). It is 
this which must account for it‟s fearsome reputation as the volume of venom 
delivered is “extravagantly in excess of anything they might need for killing their 
prey” (Lane M,cited in Marsh et al 1997:764). Prey is usually ambushed and 
generally consists of rodents, monkeys, mongooses, hares and birds. The 
snake is viviparous, the young are large and the litters are large - often up to 60 
in West Africa, but smaller (16-30) in Southern Africa. 
 
Its‟ venom is similar to the puffadder (Bitis arietans) but yields are between 450-
600mg in a single bite as compared to 100-350mg for the puffadder - 100mg 
being a fatal dose in humans. Bitis gabonica can be said to produce the largest 
amount of venom of any poisonous snake and yields in excess of 2 grams of 
dry venom per milking have been documented (Whaler B.C, cited in Marsh et al 
1997:764). 
 
As stated above, bites from this snake are rare but serious. Large amounts of 
venom are injected deep into the tissues resulting in rapid swelling at the site 
and then the whole limb. Pain is intense, haemorrhagic oedema and blistering 
at the bite follows rapidly and hypotension, cardiac damage, dyspnoea and 
unconsciousness may occur; there is haemorrhage, with haematuria and 
haematemesis possible sequelae; necrosis and the need for amputation are 
possible; death is not rare (Spawls and Branch 1995: 116-118). The four main 
modalities of toxicity are disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC, with the 
production of large thrombi in the vacular tree and thus the potential of fatal 
embolism), haemorrhage, hypotension and cardiotoxicity. Ultimately, death will 
most likely be the result of cardiac damage. One of the early effects of the 
haemorrhagins may be pulmonary oedema and dyspnoea. In the case of a 
successful hunt, haemorrhage is unlikely to occur in the short time it takes for 
the prey to die so the purpose of the haemorrhagins is most likely to aid in 
digestion of the carcass (Marsh et al 1997:768).  
 
 10 
[ NB: These are the toxicological symptoms of the venom itself, they will not 
appear in the proving. The venom will be rendered safe by the process of serial 
deconcentration according to the method specified by the German 
Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia (GHP), 5th supplement (1991) to the 1st edition 
(1978) for the other snake venoms (GHP 289/255) ]. 
 
 
 
BITIS GABONICA GABONICA 
 11 
CHAPTER 3 – THE DATA: TREATMENT AND 
INTERPRETATION 
 
3.1 THE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN 
[This followed that of Wrights' 1999 proving of Bitis arietans arietans] 
 
The homoeopathic drug proving of the venom of Bitis gabonica gabonica 30CH 
took the form of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on twenty subjects who all 
met the inclusion criteria. Five of the twenty subjects received placebo in a 
randomized fashion, so that neither the provers nor the researcher knew who had 
received placebo or verum. As an added control the provers were unaware of the 
substance or the potency they were proving as suggested by most writers 
(Walach 1997:221; Sherr 1994). 
 
Data collection was via the journals that the provers kept in order to record their 
daily symptoms - data was later extracted from these journals. Data recorded by 
the researcher from case histories and physical examination was also considered. 
 The study design was a single group with placebo control as well as intra-
individual control - the prover serves as his or her own control by recording their 
state before the drug is taken; this serves as a baseline for comparison to their 
later state under the influence of the proving substance (Vithoulkas 1986:150). 
 
3.2 AN OUTLINE OF THE METHOD 
 Provers were recruited mainly from the departments student body but the 
study was open to qualified homoeopaths, medical practitioners, 
pharmacists or any other interested persons. 
 12 
 The initial interview screened the potential provers for suitability according 
to the inclusion criteria. (Appendix A) 
 The provers received all the information pertinent to the manner in which 
the trial was to be conducted at the pre-trial consultation. What was 
required of them was explained and they had an opportunity to ask 
questions on any aspect of the trial they did not understand fully. 
 A thorough case history and physical examination was performed on each 
prover by the researcher. (Appendix C) 
 The provers signed the consent form. (Appendix B) 
 Provers were each assigned a prover code, a list of instructions (Appendix 
D), a journal, a list of contact telephone numbers, a starting date and 
medication in the form of powders. 
 The provers were asked to record their symptoms 3 times a day, or as they 
occurred, in their journal for the first 7 days (Sherr 1994:60). This 
established the provers' baseline state. 
 The provers began taking the powders 3 times a day and recorded their 
symptoms as they appeared. The researcher was in regular contact with 
the prover during this time. 
 The prover ceased to take the substance when symptoms began to appear 
- noticed either by the prover or the researcher. 
 If no symptoms were noted after finishing the powders they would continue 
to record their state for an agreed period nonetheless. 
 Provers continued to keep a record until all symptoms abated. 
 After the first week, contact with the provers decreased from daily to every 
2 days to every 3 then to weekly. 
 When no symptoms had been noted for 1 week then the proving was 
considered to be complete. This will be followed by a one week post-
proving observation period. 
 The  journals were then recalled. 
 The group discussion then took place. 
 13 
 The proving was then unblinded to the researcher so he could distinguish 
between placebo and verum. 
 Data was then extracted and collated. 
 Statistics: these were impractical in this study. No formal statistics were 
used other than age and sex analysis. 
 The proving was written up into Materia Medica and Repertory format and 
published.  
 
3.3 THE PROVING SUBSTANCE 
3.3.1  THE POTENCY 
The nature of the substance to be proved and the common use of the 30CH and 
its promising effects support the use in this study of the 30CH only (see 2.4 
above). 
 
3.3.2  DOSE AND POSOLOGY 
 One powder was dissolved sublingually 3 times a day until the onset of 
symptoms and for no longer than 1 week. 
 No powders were taken after onset of symptoms (Sherr 1994:53). This is 
the rule of Drug non-repetition in pathogenetic experiments (Gaier 
1991:267). 
 Nothing was taken by mouth for 20 minutes before and after each dose. 
 
3.3.3  PREPARATION AND DISPENSING OF THE REMEDY 
Potencies of the fresh venom of Bitis gabonica gabonica were prepared from 
samples obtained from a healthy female Gaboon viper by Gavin Carpenter, a 
professional snake breeder, according to the method specified by the German 
Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia (GHP), 5th supplement (1991) to the 1st edition 
(1978) for the other snake venoms (GHP 289/255). It should be noted that the 
researcher used fresh, rather than freeze-dried, venom. The verum was 
 14 
dispensed as lactose granules that had been triple impregnated at 1% v/v with 
Bitis gabonica 30CH in 73% ethanol. The placebo was dispensed as lactose 
granules as above but impregnated with 73% ethanol alone. The dispensing was 
done in such a way that the researcher did not know who had received verum or 
placebo (see 3.5 below). 
 
3.4 THE DURATION 
A one-week observation period preceded the start of the proving. Provers took 
their powders until the onset of symptoms but for not longer than 1 week.  
They recorded their symptoms until they abated and the proving was complete 
once there had been no unusual symptoms for one week. A one-week 
observation period followed. 
 
3.5 PROVER POPULATION AND PERCENTAGE PLACEBO 
This double-blind placebo-controlled drug proving used twenty provers with 25% 
(five provers) placebo control assigned in a randomized fashion. This was 
achieved by writing the prover codes (1-20) on pieces of paper, folding them over 
and mixing them together in a container. The papers were then removed one by 
one and assigned to Piles A and B in the ratio 3A:1B to give each pile the 
required number in a random fashion. Pile A was the verum group and Pile B the 
placebo control. This procedure was carried out by the laboratory technician who 
also dispensed the powders so that the researcher remained blind as to which 
provers were in which group.  
 
3.5.1  CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROVING 
The subject: 
 Was between the ages of 18 and 65 years. 
 15 
 Was in a general state of good health as judged by the researcher and the 
subject (Koppers 1987). 
 Had no gross physical/mental pathology (case history) (Sherr 1994:44). 
 Was neither on nor in need of any medication of any sort (Walach et al 
1995). 
 Had not been on oral contraceptives or HRT in the six months prior to the 
proving (Sherr1994:44). 
 Had not had surgery in the last six weeks (Riley 1995a,b). 
 Did not consume more than 2 measure of alcohol, 3 cups of caffeine-
containing beverages/herb teas or 10 cigarettes per day (Sherr 1994:29). 
 Was not a user of recreational drugs such as LSD and Cannabis (Sherr 
1994:44).   
 Was not pregnant or nursing (Sherr 1994:44). 
 Was able to adhere to the protocols (Royal 1991). 
 Was acquainted with the principles and methods of homoeopathic drug 
provings. 
 Was  considered competent and had signed the consent form (Riley 
1995a,b). 
 
3.5.2  MONITORING THE PROVERS 
Provers began the proving as close together as possible. The researcher was in 
daily contact by phone with each prover during the initial stages as detailed above 
(3.2). As the symptoms began to abate the contacts decreased to every 2, 3 then 
7 days (Sherr 1994:58). 
 
This ensured that the researcher knew when to tell the prover to stop taking the 
substance, the prover did not neglect to record important symptoms and any 
adverse reactions could be monitored and antidoted if necessary. 
 
 
 16 
3.5.3  CHRONOLOGY  
The prover noted down the time elapsed since the beginning of the proving with 
each recorded symptom (Hahnemann 1992:116). This was recorded as 
DD:HH:MM, where DD= number of days since the proving began (day1=00), HH= 
number of hours and MM= number of minutes. 
 
The top of each page of the journal was marked with the appropriate day code. 
After 24hrs the minutes become redundant (=XX). After 2 days the hours were 
redundant and shown by XX. Where time is unclear or considered insignificant, 
XX:XX:XX was used. Symptoms that occur after each dose were recorded with 
the time after the dose. Actual time of day was only included where it was definite 
and significant. All irrelevant time data was erased in the initial extraction 
(Sherr1994: 73-74). 
 
3.6 GROUP DISCUSSION   
Once the journals were handed in a group discussion was held. This was a 
valuable source of information as it helped stimulate the provers’ memories to 
remember symptoms that they had forgotten or neglected to record, or which they 
were unsure of.  
 
The discussion added a useful dimension to the proving experience without which 
many valuable symptoms would have been lost. It clarified issues and allowed the 
researcher to confirm or discard doubtful symptoms (Sherr 1994:66). 
 
3.7 SYMPTOM COLLECTION, EXTRACTION & EVALUATION  
This stage of the method converts the diaries into the format of the Materia 
Medica. Symptoms are studied and validated or rejected, according to the criteria 
 17 
below, then edited into a format which is coherent, logical and concise (Sherr 
1994:67). 
 Each provers journal was analyzed separately at first, and the extractions 
recorded as follows: 
 A new page for each system or body part, clearly marked. 
 The prover number is recorded at the top of the page. 
 A minor column on the left records time elapsed since the start of the 
proving. 
 The main column on the left is for text. Accounts are written in the first 
person in plain English, not repertory style. Retain the actual expressions of 
the prover (Close, 1981:56). Avoid contemporary terms (slang) that may be 
confusing in future (Sherr, 1994:67-68). 
 
3.7.1  CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE OF A SYMPTOM 
This involved the qualitative analysis of symptoms using these criteria as 
guidelines (Sherr 1994:70). 
 The symptom did not appear in a prover in the placebo group. 
 The symptom appeared shortly after taking the substance (Riley 1995a,b). 
 The intensity of the symptom (Sherr 1994:72; Nagpaul 1987). 
 The duration of the symptom (Nagpaul 1987; Riley 1995a,b). 
 The number of subjects experiencing a symptom (Riley 1995a,b). 
 The modalities and concomitants associated with a symptom (Riley 
1995a,b). 
 The symptom was strange, rare or peculiar either for that prover or in 
general (Riley 1995a,b). 
 The cure of a pre-existing chronic symptom (Sherr 1994:71;Riley 1995a,b). 
 If a prover was under the influence of the proving substance (seen from the 
general appearance of symptoms), then all other new symptoms were 
proving symptoms (Hahnemann 1992; Sherr 1994:70) 
 18 
 The symptom was not usual or current for the prover, unless intensified to a 
marked degree (Sherr 1994:70). 
 The symptom did not occur in the prover in the last year (Sherr 1994:70). 
 The symptom did not appear naturally or spontaneously i.e. did not have a 
clear extraneous cause (Sherr 1994:70). 
 A current symptom that has been modified or altered - the altered and 
current parts will be clearly described (Sherr 1994:70). 
 Accidents, coincidences and synchronistic events that happen to more than 
one prover (Hahnemann 1992:115; Sherr 1994:70). 
 The symptom occurred a long time previously (5 or more years) and there 
is no explicable reason for its reappearance at the time of the proving 
(Hahnemann 1992:115; Sherr 1994:70). 
 
3.8 COLLATING AND EDITING 
This was the actual process of uniting all the fragments of the proving accounts 
into a comprehensive whole. The data first had to be ordered into relevant 
sections and subdivisions (mind, vertigo, head, etc). Then each section from each 
prover was put together and sorted according to subject and time of appearance; 
identical or similar symptoms from different provers were listed separately and 
consecutively having been sorted by the following criteria: 
 The nature of the symptom 
 The prover 
 The sequence development of the symptom 
 The time of appearance of the symptom 
 
3.9 TOXICOLOGICAL DATA 
Toxicological data was taken into account to provide a more complete picture of 
the remedies action on healthy people in order to widen the possible therapeutic 
 19 
spectrum of the preparation. It was incorporated into the data before it was written 
up in materia medica and repertory format. 
 
3.10 REPORTING OF THE DATA  
3.10.1 THE REPERTORY 
            Data was converted into Rubrics of a form compatible with a modern 
Repertory (Synthesis ed. 7: Schroyens 1997). 
 
3.10.2 THE MATERIA MEDICA 
           All symptoms were written up into a typical Materia Medica format that 
again closely adhered to the sections laid out in Synthesis ed. 7 (1997) for ease of 
reference and standardization. 
The following headings were used:
 Mind  
 Vertigo 
 Head 
 Eye 
 Vision 
 Ear 
 Hearing 
 Nose 
 Face 
 Mouth 
 Teeth 
 Throat 
 External throat 
 Stomach  
 Abdomen 
 Rectum 
 Stool 
 Bladder 
 Urine 
 Genitalia/sex 
 Larynx and trachea 
 Respiration 
 Chest 
 Back  
 Extremities  
 Sleep 
 Dreams 
 Generals 
 
 
 20 
CHAPTER 4 – THE RESULTS 
 
THE MATERIA MEDICA AND REPERTORY OF         
BITIS GABONICA GABONICA 
 
4.1 KEY 
The following form is used to reference the symptoms of the Materia Medica: 
 
(Prover number)(sex)  (day: hour: minute) 
  
The symptoms are listed according to section and theme (where relevant) in 
both the Materia Medica (4.2) and Rubrics (4.3) and the sections follow the 
order found in the repertory (Synthesis edition 7: 1997). The Rubrics are 
presented in the same format as they would be found in Synthesis: 
 
(Rubric)(subrubric/s) (Synthesis page number) 
 
New symptoms suggested by the proving are underlined and indicated by a 
capital N instead of a page number. 
The grading (intensity) of the symptom is, where necessary, indicated by the 
font, as in Synthesis: 
 Grade three in bold type. 
 Grade two in Italics. 
 Grade one in normal type. 
 New symptoms are underlined. 
 
 
 
 
 21 
4.2 MATERIA MEDICA 
4.2.1 MIND 
ISOLATION/ALONE/DESIRE TO BE ALONE 
I feel very alone and insecure. Everything they say hurts as if they are 
deliberately saying things to hurt. I have disconnected myself from the 
conversation...I do not feel like talking...especially about me. I like my own 
space and want it now. 
10F 1:1630 
 
Sense of isolation. Anger. Confused. Overwhelmed. Self pity. 
01F 1:1310  
 
Feel alone and on the outside. Wish I could get more support and 
encouragement at home - might snap and scream at them. 
03F 3:xxxx 
 
Feeling some isolation from companions. 
03F 9:xxxx 
 
Tired and despondent. Feel alone, isolated, far from those that love me.  
03F 9:xxxx 
 
Distanced from issues around me. 
18F 1:1400 
 
Want to talk to people about experiences but aware that they may not care so 
say nothing. 
01F 13:xxxx                                                                 
 
 
Feeling very alone. Unconnected to others. 
03F 7:xxxx 
 22 
Feeling alone. Not connecting. 
03F 11:xxxx 
 
Depressed and lonely. 
04F 6:xxxx 
 
Feel unconfident, just want to hide away for a while, disconnect. 
19M 3:xxxx 
 
Still feeling disconnected. 
19M 4:xxxx 
 
 
Feel am hiding away from the world and self. 
19M 20:xxxx 
 
Still sighing. Don‟t think I‟m proving. Enjoying my own company. Not as 
sociable, don‟t converse with flat mates with the same fervour. 
08M 3:xxxx 
 
Want to be alone. Don‟t want to talk to anyone and especially about me. 
10F 10:xxxx 
 
Don‟t want to be around people; want to lie still in bed with a warm blanket. Feel 
better lying on my side. 
03F 13:xxxx 
 
 
PANIC/FEELING THREATENED 
Have been having panic attacks. <Night, sleep, early am. Wake disoriented and 
terrified. Suddenly feel alone or in the company of strangers. Intense for a few 
seconds. Quickly calm down. More fear of violent death recently. 
01F 20:xxxx 
 23 
Everything against me this afternoon. Felt I couldn‟t communicate with anyone. 
That no one was hearing me, and I needed help.  
03F 7:xxxx 
 
Realizing that clenching jaw related to fear of commitment, of being with one 
person for life…of being caged…limited to given behaviour patterns…being 
bored with one person. 
17F 3:xxxx 
 
 
SEPARATED FROM SELF/SCATTERED 
Feel distant from my physical self, like cotton wool in head. 
08M 2:xxxx 
 
Talking to friends - felt they were looking at my face and I was behind my face 
looking out; I wasn‟t in myself; I couldn‟t connect with people. I feel very alone. 
03F 7:xxxx 
 
At a concert - as if I was not all there; as if I could not give myself to the moment 
and enjoy myself. I feel like a pale shade that‟s trying to put on this face of 
coping…I feel quite out. 
03F 12:xxxx 
 
 
Scattered, very short of patience. 
18F 6:xxxx 
 
Feel out of it. 
18F 9:xxxx 
 
Dizzy spaced out feeling. 
12F 0:1045  
 24 
 
DEPRESSION/SADNESS/CRYING 
Better after sleep. A bit depressed. Frustrated. Depression is odd; if I sit and 
brood (which I really feel like doing) then it gets very heavy, but if I get up and 
do things I feel ok. 
10F 2:xxxx 
 
Sadness. <Nightfall (1730-1800). Like as night falls so does the depression. 
10F 4:xxxx  
 
Had a very upset feeling in the morning.  
04F 0:xxxx  
 
Feeling sensitive. Down and depressed. 
04F 0:1600 
 
Slightly depressed. Better towards afternoon. 
04F 3:xxxx  
 
Tired, sensitive and depressed. 
04F 4:xxxx 
 
Depressed and lonely 
04F 6:xxxx 
 
Depressed all day. Drastic changes in mood, can‟t explain them.  
05F 7:xxxx 
 
Woke depressed and unhappy. Low self esteem. Snappy. 
05F 7:xxxx 
 
Much sighing. Desire to sigh, often. 
08M 1:xxxx 
 25 
 
Negative. 
19M 1:1300 
 
Melancholy. 
19M 2:xxxx 
 
Unmotivated and tired. 
19M 3:xxxx 
 
Sad without reason.  
19M 4:xxxx  
 
Disoriented, negative, unmotivated. 
19M 19:xxxx  
 
 
Desire to cry. Sadness. 
01F 1:0945  
 
Tearful. > Mental exertion. <Company, consolation. 
01F 1:1310 
 
Burst into tears. Humiliated from all staring. I never cry in public. 
03F 7:xxxx 
 
Moods from one extreme to another. Crying for no reason. Not so confident 
today. 
05F 14:xxxx 
 
Very weepy, the tears are running but I am not crying. Everything they say hurts 
as if they are deliberately saying things to hurt.  
10F 1:1630 
 26 
An episode of being upset but able to control it, as it is the remedy. Feel weepy 
and hurt for no reason.  
10F 10:xxxx 
 
 
 
WELL-BEING  
I feel really well. Great to be alive. In a really good place. 
12F 2:xxxx 
 
Feeling almost airy-fairy so relaxed and well. Wonderful sense of well being. 
12F 4:xxxx 
 
Loads of energy. Very happy. High on life. 
05F 13:xxxx 
 
Happy for first time in ages without even noticing. 
03F 15:xxxx 
 
Good mood all day. 
01F 10:xxxx 
 
Happy and confident. 
03F 6:xxxx  
 
Better mood. Lots of energy in afternoon. Felt very excited. 
04F 1:xxxx 
 
Feel great, happy, calm. 
05F 4:xxxx 
 
Felt peachy all day. 
05F 4:xxxx 
 27 
General feeling of well being. 
12F 1:1800  
 
For first time in life am linked up with happy child hood memories. 
17F Week3 
 
Feel at peace. 
19M 16:xxxx 
 
Much better, motivated, positive. 
19M 22:xxxx 
 
 
IRRITABLE  
Woke in foul mood because haven‟t slept enough. Grumpy with everyone. 
Irritable at the slightest thing. “I‟m not me”. Strangely have patience with 
children. 
05F 8:xxxx 
Agitation. When others waste my time.      
01F 8:xxxx 
 
Irritable. Lost temper. Overdressed for the heat. 
03F 6:xxxx 
 
Moody- snappy at times. 
05F 1:2200 
 
Very moody. Snapping at everyone. 
05F 3:xxxx 
 
Ratty and moody until 4ish. 
05F 4:xxxx 
 28 
Still moody snappy. Insecurity back, about how and what I feel. Can‟t make 
decisions quickly. Looking for attention and affection. Feeling unappreciated. 
05F 5:xxxx 
 
Very moody. Up and down in 2 seconds. Feel empty inside. Life is turned 
upside down. 
05F 6:xxxx 
 
Slightly irritable. 
10F 1:1030 
 
Feeling very strange, little things upsetting me greatly.  
10F 1:1630 
 
Drained, unsettled, irritable, vulnerable. 
18F 9:xxxx 
 
Tired and irritable. 
18F 15:xxxx 
 
 
SENSITIVE  
Reprimanded in class. Feel worthless. 
03F 7:xxxx 
 
Last few days, taking offence more than usual. Not being compliant. I feel quite 
abrasive. Sensitive to criticism/rejection. Sensitive. Feel bad and unloved. Lack 
of support at home is really draining my energy. 
03F 8:xxxx 
 
Feel vulnerable. Also peaceful. 
18F 0:2000 
 29 
 
Very sensitive to noise, people. Drained, unsettled, irritable, vulnerable. 
18F 9:xxxx  
 
Overwhelmed by people, noise, and activity. 
18F 9:xxxx 
 
 
 
MISTAKES/POOR CONCENTRATION /FORGETFUL 
Missing letters, wrong letters in words; „can‟t write properly‟. 
01F 4:xxxx  
 
Unusual amount of writing errors in class. 
03F 0:1230  
 
All day confusing dates/days, feel like I'm missing things, not on top of things. 
Distanced from issues around me. 
18F 1:1400 
 
 
Problems concentrating. 
03F 10:xxxx 
 
Lack of concentration. 
13M 6:xxxx 
 
Concentration lacking in class, battling to remember what we did. 
13M 7:xxxx 
 
Most consistent symptom is lack of concentration in class. 
13M 8:xxxx 
 30 
 
Feeling moody, feel I need some space, to be on my own. Cannot settle down 
to work. Don‟t know what is wrong with me. 
13M 9:xxxx 
 
 
Distracted. Very forgetful today.  
01F 6:xxxx  
 
Very forgetful. In and out of house 4 times before I had everything. 
03F 3:xxxx 
 
 
 
CONFIDENCE/LACK OF CONFIDENCE  
„Drew the line‟ with boyfriend, told him to stop bullying. Very clear. 
01F 12:xxxx  
 
More certain of social power over last few days. Not letting people be rude to 
me. 
03F 1:1900 
 
Feel good. Less insecure and jealous. 
03F 5:xxxx 
 
Feeling strongly about standing up to a certain individual, not letting him 
intimidate me. 
03F 13:xxxx 
 
More relaxed, confident, connected. 
03F 14:xxxx  
 
 31 
Twice lost control of emotions. Never done this before. Felt good. MY feelings. 
Much more centred. Stronger. 
03F xx:xxxx 
 
 
Sorry for self. Feel unattractive. Anxiety. 
03F 8:xxxx 
 
Feel useless and ignorant. 
03F 11:xxxx 
 
Still moody snappy. Insecurity back, about how and what I feel. Can‟t make 
decisions quickly. Looking for attention and affection. Feeling unappreciated. 
05F 5:xxxx 
 
 
MENTAL ACTIVITY: HYPER/HYPO-ACTIVE/ENERGY 
Woke with mind racing, sometimes optimistic, sometimes anxious and 
unhopeful. 
18F 2:xxxx 
 
Mind jumping all over. 
18F 17:xxxx 
 
>Occupation till late. 
01F 0:1900 
 
Feel mentally energetic.  
01F 2:0715 
 
Racing thoughts. Looping over same thoughts again and again. 
19M 11:xxxx 
 32 
 
Thinking too much. Can‟t sleep late.  
05F 7:xxxx 
 
Feel a bit breathless. 
18F 5:xxxx 
 
Mental/emotional overload, too much going on. 
18F 9:xxxx 
 
Energetic, hyperactive. Tense. Shallow breath, can‟t relax. 
19M 2:xxxx 
 
Feel hyper and unfocussed, can‟t sit still. 
19M 16:xxxx 
 
 
When playing a memory game feel incapable, stupid, slow and being hunted. 
05F 2:xxxx. 
 
Overwhelmed, tired. 
18F 0:1600 
 
Feel flat as usual, neutral. 
18F 1:0700 
 
Very slowed up. 
18F 10:xxxx 
 
Tired at night and unable to study. 
15M 4:xxxx 
 
 33 
CONFUSION/CALM 
Confused about feelings for others. >Talking and hugs. 
05F 14:xxxx 
 
Woke not knowing where I was. 
19M 3:xxxx 
 
Feel great, relaxed, clear head. Bizarre distant memories, images, unresolved 
relationships. Or street I didn‟t like when I was young. 
19M 5:xxxx 
 
 
Aura of calm. 
05F 15:xxxx 
 
Feeling of order and rest restored. 
17F 0:xxxx 
 
I am very gently learning to live life supported and cared for. 
17F 5:xxxx 
 
 
BLOATING/EXPANSION 
Imagined my body getting bigger 5 min after remedy dissolved 
01F 0:0600 
 
PLACEBO 
Fed up that I'm sure I'm on placebo. Feel well and really good mentally. 
12F 3:xxxx 
 34 
 
OTHER 
Regression moment of suckling…being very sick as a child, battling to sit up 
and receive a drink. 
17F 4:xxxx  
  
 
4.2.2 VERTIGO 
Feel like I'm falling. 
19M 17:xxxx 
Light headed and dizzy on computer. >Sitting, closing eyes. 
05F 0:1330 
 
Faint and dizzy around 1400. 
10F 16:xxxx 
 
Still a bit dizzy. 
12F 0:1600 
 
Dizzyness in head. Feels like spongy brain. 
12F 1:1200 
 
Dizzy 1/2 hr after remedy. 
12F 3:xxxx 
 
Slight dizzyness in head. 
12F 7:xxxx 
 
Head became dizzy. 
15F 5:xxxx 
 
 35 
4.2.3 HEAD 
Frontal headache. Sharp ache. 
01F 4:xxxx 
 
Headache frontal, root of nose. <Heat. >Rest. Since 1230. 
01F 4:1415 
 
Headache dull frontal. >Distraction. < Thinking on it. 
01F 4:xxxx 
 
Woke with frontal headache. Dull pressing pain. <Bending forward. Cleared 
13h00. 
01F 8:xxxx 
 
Woke with dull frontal headache. Slight nasal congestion. 
01F 10:xxxx 
 
Mild headache front left. 
09F 0:0756 
 
Stronger headache front right. Gone by 0951. 
09F 0:0940 
 
Headache start burning, no break until morning of the next day, at forehead. 
15M 2:xxxx 
 
Pain in the forehead, appears once an hour. 
15M 5:xxxx 
 
Ache across brow. 
18F 3:xxxx  
 
 
 36 
Headache worse, brow. < On left. 
18F 4:xxxx  
 
Headache back. Across brow, between eyes. 
18F 1:1700 
 
Headache, not unbearable. Frontal, focus is just above eyes, to both temples 
equally. Sense of oppression, heaviness in my forehead. Want to close eyes 
and lie down but don‟t at the same time. 
10F 6:xxxx 
 
 
 
Headache between eyes and brow. 
18F 0:1600 
 
Headache most of the day in & between eyes. > And < in waves. 
05F 3:xxxx 
 
Headache on the left eye, which was „cracking‟. 
15M 13:xxxx  
 
Headache on the left, pulling the eye. 
15M 15:xxxx 
 
Headache on left from left ear to left eye; goes up and disappeared. < Lying 
face down. 
15M 16:xxxx  
 
Headache on left, pulling left eye inward, not see clearly, painful, neck becomes 
tired. 
15M 16:xxxx 
 
 37 
Headache thorn like (throbbing) moving above the eyes. During the day eyes 
unable to see clearly because of this headache, which attacks both eyes 
sideways. 
15M 1:xxxx 
 
Headache between eyes, <bending, moving quickly. 
18F 7:xxxx 
 
Small headache behind left eye, next to nose. 
19M 6:xxxx 
 
Frontal and temporal headache radiating to left cheek and teeth. 
01F 0:0800 
 
 
Headache in left temple, left orbit. <Stooping, bending head back. 
01F 0:1200 
 
Migraine woke me at 3am. Explosive pain, throbbing left temple. <Lying on 
back. >On side. Must keep still.   
01F 9:xxxx    
 
Headache, temples. >Heat. 
03F 7:xxxx 
 
Woke with headache right temple. >Lying on left side. 
05F 3:xxxx 
 
Headache at base of skull (occiput) and temples. Constant ache. >Lying and 
closing eyes. 
10F 19:xxxx 
 
 
 38 
Headache slight at temples. 
18F 2:xxxx  
 
Tension in temples going down into jaw. 
12F 1:1430 
 
Headache at temples <sudden movement (ears, jaw, eyes as before). 
18F 3:xxxx  
 
Tight sore at temples. 
18F 3:xxxx 
 
Headache worse, at temples, both sides. 
18F 8:xxxx 
 
 
Felt fluey all day. Pressure in occiput, and down my neck. Don‟t want anything 
around my neck - would give me a headache. 
08M 3:xxxx 
 
Starting to feel fluey. Not in my normal sequence. A pending headache. 
Lingering in occiput. "A pressure with heat". 
08M 2:xxxx 
 
Headache at base of skull on left going into left trapezius. 
12F 1:0900 
 
Headache from trigger point in traps.  
13M 0:1430 
 
Headache comes and goes. Head and muscles around neck very painful. 
15M 4:xxxx 
 
 39 
Headache at back of neck, left. 
18F 4:xxxx 
 
Harsh headache at back of head. Coming down with something. 
19M 17:xxxx   
 
Headache back of head and towards left ear. 
20F 0:xxxx  
 
Heaviness in head and shoulders started in afternoon. Not a pain but like a 
pressure. 
20F 1:xxxx 
 
 
Headache and ear pain on and off during the day. 
18F 13:xxxx 
 
 
Slight h/a. 
04F 6:xxxx 
 
Slight headache. 
06F 3:xxxx 
 
Mild headache right. 
09F 1:1500 
 
Headache <left. 
15M 5:xxxx  
 
Sensation as if a headache coming on. 
10F 1:1030 
 
 40 
Headache persisting. From 1830. 
13M 0:2030 
 
Mild headache. 
18F 1:0900 
 
Slight headache. <Sudden movement. 
18F 4:xxxx 
 
Headache still there, <cold juice. 
18F 0:2000  
 
Headache < after cold naartjie/ any cold food. 
18F 0:2030  
 
Head sensitive to cold things. 
18F 5:xxxx 
 
Mild headache from cold juice. 
18F 12:xxxx  
 
Headache from cold drink. 
18F 18:xxxx 
 
Sharp headache after birthday cake with icing. On and off < bending. 
18F 19:xxxx  
 
Headache < 5pm. 
18F 10:xxxx  
 
 
Headache gone. 
13M 0:2100 
 41 
Headache until 10h. 
15M 3:xxxx  
 
Headache gone >sleep. 
06F 3:xxxx 
  
 
Had one beer but effects pretty weird - nausea, drunk and light headed. Passed 
within 2 hrs but felt run-down for rest of evening. 
13M 3:xxxx 
  
Stuffy head. 
10F 21:xxxx 
 
Head tight. 
01F 8:xxxx  
 
Headache very bad. 
15M 16:xxxx  
 
4.2.4 EYES 
For last week left eyeball tender to light pressure. <Night. Feels swollen and 
larger than other eye. Some difficulty focusing. Blurring after 
reading/concentration. 
01F 9:xxxx 
 
Puffy eyes. 
03F 11:xxxx 
  
Woke with left eye puffy and swollen, not sore, feels heavy and swollen. Can 
open it half way. Much better by 08h00. Gone by end of the day. 
10F 8:xxxx  
 42 
 
Eye still feels puffy but looks better. Sensation of grit. Feels scratchy. Not red. 
>Rubbing. 
10F 9:xxxx 
 
Eyes swollen, puffy, dry. 
03F 8:xxxx  
 
 
Dull ache to touch on right eyelid. Red spot of inflammation. 
09F 11:xxxx  
 
Inflammation worse. Sharp pain on blinking/touch. Otherwise dull ache. 
09F 12:xxxx  
 
Inflammation on eye looks like pimple, opened with a pin and resolved. 
09F 13:xxxx  
 
Eyeballs feel dry. 
03F 0:0530  
 
Sun feels too bright. Shade is soothing. 
03F 0:1230  
 
Red eyes. 
03F 1:0530  
 
Eyes red itchy irritated. 
03F 2:xxxx 
 
Feels like a mild allergic reaction to something. Eyes a bit scratchy, nose 
tingling. 
19M 1:0640  
 43 
Burning. 
19M 17:xxxx 
 
 
Heavy. 
03F 1:1220  
 
Eyes heavy. Tired. 
05F 1:1100  
  
Anxiety in eyes. 
03F 8:xxxx  
 
Eyes aching - slight. 
18F 0:1600  
 
 
Eyes have healed. 
17F wk3 
 
During the day eyes unable to see clearly because of this headache, which 
attacks both eyes sideways: the land was full of mist during the day; it will come 
and go. 
15M 1:xxxx 
 
Left eye strained back (pull) and unable to see clearly. 
15M 5:xxxx 
 
4.2.5 EAR 
Right ear canal itchy, <touching. 
01F 3:xxxx  
 44 
Inner ear ache on right. 2-3mins. 
09F 7:xxxx  
 
 
Buzzing in head. 
12F 0:1045  
 
Feel a bit blocked. 
12F 0:1600  
 
Sensation ears as if blocked, but hearing not affected. 
12F 4:xxxx  
 
 
Sharp pain (thorn) at the left ear for 5mins then disappeared. 
15M 0:0658  
 
Behind the left ear I feel something moving. It was painful for a few seconds 
then disappeared. 
15M 13:xxxx  
 
Tender left. 
18M 5:xxxx 
 
Sore just in front of left ear. 
18M 8:xxxx  
 
 
Pain behind right ear, throbbing. 
15M 3:xxxx  
 
Ear tender/painful at edge of right ear lobe. Later on left too. 
18M 2:xxxx  
 45 
 
Sore just behind, right, pressure point. 
18M 4:xxxx  
 
Sore left and right, usual pressure point feeling in front of ears. 
18M 10:xxxx 
 
Pain just at edge of ears, like the sinus type pain. 
18M 3:xxxx  
 
4.2.6 NOSE   
Slight postnasal discharge but no congestion for a change. 
01F 2:xxxx  
 
Runny nose this am, worse on rising. Clear egg white. 
01F 9:xxxx  
 
Watery mucus, free discharge, can breathe. 
01F 11:xxxx  
 
Watery salty discharge, less than last night.  
01F 12:xxxx  
 
Nose ran after got up. 
03F 1:0235  
 
Nose ran this am as usual, cleared by lunch. 
03F 3:xxxx  
 
Running like water. Burns from blowing. 
03F 8:xxxx  
 
 46 
No hay fever. Nose ran a bit 
03F 13:xxxx 
 
Watery secretion from nose. 
09F 6:xxxx  
 
Right nose still running. Postnasal drip. 
09F 6:xxxx  
 
Running both sides. Right thicker mucus later. 
09F 8:xxxx  
 
Watery discharge left nose. 
09F 9:xxxx  
 
Postnasal discharge - have to keep clearing throat. 
12F 7:xxxx 
 
Started running…colourless…come and disappeared. 
15M 3:xxxx  
 
Nose running…Come and go till 1900. 
15M 3:xxxx  
 
Running more than in last few days. 
18F 4:xxxx 
 
Very runny. 
18F 11:xxxx 
 
Running, clear, constant. 
19M 17:xxxx  
 
 47 
Sneezing a lot. Nose running thick clear. 
03F 1:0530 
 
Nose running. Thick. Clear. Sneezing. > Eating. <Cold. 
03F 0:0530 
 
Sneezing. Nose watery, clear. 
03F 9:xxxx  
 
Left nose watery - sneeze if don‟t blow. 
09F 9:xxxx  
 
Cold windy day, sneezing, throat a bit scratchy, head clear. 
18F 24:xxxx  
 
Burning, lots of sneezing, cold sweats, sleeping a lot. 
19M 18:xxxx  
 
Still sneezing but flu over. 
19M 20:xxxx  
 
Sneezing, nose running on left, during day. Left nostril blocked at night. 
15M 5:xxxx 
  
 
Thick clear mucus; nasal congestion. 
01F 3:xxxx  
 
Slight nasal congestion. 
01F 10:xxxx  
 
Nose stopped running. 
03F 0:0930  
 48 
 
Woke with dry mouth and nose, nose blocked, sneezing. 
05F 4:xxxx  
 
Blocked nose. 
06F 2:xxxx  
 
Blocked nose. Sneezing. 
06F 3:xxxx  
 
Sneezing has stopped. Nose still blocked. 
06F 4:xxxx  
 
Blocked nose right, more than usual. Yellow mucus. In throat. 
09F 1:0730  
 
Blocked nose gone. 
09F 1:0900  
 
Blocked nose (from wind?), dried after blowing. 
09F 1:1140  
 
Nose blocked left. 
09F 2:xxxx  
 
Right nose blocked. 
09F 4:xxxx  
 
Nose and sinus blocked. 
09F 6:xxxx  
 
Sinus and nose very blocked <right. Postnasal drip. 
09F 7:xxxx  
 49 
Left nose blocked, no discharge. Became watery then thickened. Stops when 
warm, runs when cold, like hayfever. 
09F 10:xxxx  
 
Nose is blocked. Feels like a head cold. Nose is running watery and clear. 
10F 20:xxxx  
 
Left nostril blocked. Sneezing. <Night after 9pm. 
10F 21:xxxx  
 
Can‟t blow nose as is blocked, but is running. 
10F 22:xxxx  
 
Getting better. Slightly blocked on left. 
10F 23:xxxx  
 
Woke with sinuses but cleared soon. 
17F 2:xxxx  
 
Sinuses terrible this week. 
17F Wk4  
 
Nose blocked and tight like sinus. 
18F 1:0700  
 
Blocked slightly. 
18F 4:xxxx 
 
Both nostrils blocked. 
19M 17:xxxx 
 
Left nostril blocked. Nose still feels a bit tender. 
19M 22:xxxx  
 50 
 
Postnasal cavity feeling sensitive like I might get a cold. 
13M 3:xxxx  
 
Feel good but postnasal cavity sore again. 
13M 6:xxxx  
 
Nose cavities dry… nostrils dry and painful, comes and goes for an hour. 
15M 3:xxxx  
 
Left nostril dry and painful like a person who walk on a hot dry windy area. Nose 
cavities dry. Sneezing the whole day. 
15M 4:xxxx  
 
Left nostril painful, running, clear mucus. 
15M 5:xxxx  
 
Tightness like sinus, also face below eyes. 
18F 2:xxxx  
 
Pain especially with pressure on bridge. 
18F 7:xxxx  
 
 
Could smell things more acutely for about 1/2 hr. 
10F 16:xxxx  
 
Sinuses popping. 
12F 0:1045  
 
Sinuses still popping but not blocked. 
12F 0:1600  
 
 51 
Drier. Thick bright yellow. 
19M 19:xxxx  
 
4.2.7 FACE 
Sudden flashes of heat to face (1330 and 1830). 
03F 7:xxxx  
 
Rush of heat to face. 
03F 8:xxxx  
 
Hot flushes, burning cheeks. 
05F 2:xxxx  
 
 
Itchy, breaking out. 
03F 8:xxxx  
 
 
Dry, especially lips. 
05F 15:xxxx  
 
Generally Dry, especially lips better. 
09F 8:xxxx  
 
 
Cold sweat on face. 
10F 16:xxxx  
 
 
Nose/face sore - feels like sinus pressure/pain. 
18F 0:2030  
 52 
 
Nose and face feel tight, like sinus but it‟s not. Feels suffocating. 
18F 1:1700  
 
 
Jaw slight tightness. 
18F 2:xxxx  
 
Sore tight across bridge of nose and under eyes. Jaw uncomfortable tightness 
just under, mainly right. 
18F 3:xxxx  
 
 
Jaw feels tight. 
18F 3:xxxx  
 
Mild tightness. Jaw tight, not sore. 
18F 4:xxxx  
 
Jaw sore tender along jaw line. 
18F 5:xxxx  
 
Jaw tightness more noticeable. 
18F 13:xxxx  
 
4.2.8 MOUTH 
Lots of salty thick mucus. 
01F 1:0700 
 
Mouth full of saliva in such a way I was nearly vomiting. 
15M 2:xxxx  
 53 
 
Sour metallic taste after remedy. 
03F 0:2035  
 
Saliva glands working a lot. Itchy feeling under tongue. 
19M 0:2000  
 
 
Bruised sharp pain in right palate. Sensitive to light touch. Pain radiates to nasal 
floor. Slight > for pressure. For 10mins. 
01F 1:1120  
 
Sore spot on tongue, right, as if bitten, like a blocked duct. 
12F 1:1200  
 
Tongue sensitive. Pain when I eat. 
12F 1:1800  
 
Tongue still sore. 
12F 2:xxxx  
 
Ulcers in mouth trying to happen. 
17F 3:xxxx  
 
Ulcer ran away. Tiny cuts inside mouth. 
17F 4:xxxx  
 
Cuts in mouth healed, jaw clenching virtually stopped. 
17F Week 3  
 
 
Very dry lips. 
05F 1:1100  
 54 
 
Lips sensitive to cold. 
05F 10:xxxx  
 
 
4.2.9 THROAT 
Woke with burning dry throat. 
01F 11:xxxx  
 
Unable to swallow anything…esophagus painful like a person who swallowed 
hot food or as if I was walking in a hot windy place. 
15M 3:xxxx  
 
Sensation of cold air in larynx 5mins after remedy. Came and went. 
03F 0:0800  
 
Sensation of lump in the throat. 
03F 7:xxxx  
 
Sore aching. Lump in throat when swallowing. 
09F 8:xxxx  
 
 
Anxiety in throat. 
03F 8:xxxx  
 
Mucus in throat. 
09F 1:0730  
 
 
Scratchy. 
03F 4:xxxx  
 55 
Scratchy throat. 
09F 0:1330  
 
Scratchy. 
18F 1:1400 
 
 
Sore throat. 
06F 1:2145  
 
Mild sore throat. 
09F 3:xxxx  
 
Very sore. 
09F 9:xxxx  
 
Throat sore on first waking. 
13M 7:xxxx  
 
Slight sore, dry. 
09F 9:xxxx  
 
Sore throat, sharp sensation. >Food and drink. 
09F 2:xxxx  
 
Sore and scratchy. 
09F 5:xxxx  
 
Slight sore throat and mucus. 
09F 6:xxxx  
 
Have to keep clearing throat. 
12F7:xxxx  
 56 
Feels sore/tight. Mild sensitivity to cold juice. 
18F 1:1700  
 
Throat slight tightness. 
18F 2:xxxx  
 
 
 
4.2.10 EXTERNAL THROAT 
Jaw/throat tight sensitive just below jaw line at my throat. 
18F 3:xxxx  
 
Throat tender just below jaw 
18F 5:xxxx  
 
4.2.11 STOMACH 
Burning discomfort in stomach/epigastrium. 
01F 0:1900  
 
Burning pain in stomach from 1200. >Eating after. 
01F 2:1300  
 
Unsettled. Burning sensation, acid, deep in my stomach. 
19M 6:xxxx  
 
Sensation of a knot in stomach. 
01F 10:xxxx  
 
Ache. 
03F 14:xxxx  
 57 
Ate late lunch after a run, stomach started to grumble and felt awkward. 
13M 0:1430  
 
Sensitive to food, stranger dislikes than usual. 
18F 1:1700  
 
 
Ravenous hunger at 1pm and very thirsty for water. 
01F 11:xxxx  
 
Very thirsty. 
01F 4:xxxx  
 
Thirsty. 
03F 0:0930  
 
Hungry but can‟t decide what I want. 
01F 7:xxxx  
 
Still huge appetite, never satisfied. 
05F 7:xxxx  
 
Huge appetite. 
05F 15:xxxx  
 
Big appetite for breakfast. 
05F 16:xxxx  
 
Food is very important to me. I can eat a lot, unhappy when it is not right. 
03F 6:xxxx  
 
Felt like I didn't need breakfast. Desperately hungry late morning. 
13M 7:xxxx  
 58 
No appetite, averse food. Had to force myself to eat. 
10F 2:xxxx  
 
Appetite is not back completely but making sure I am eating…did not have 
anything for Lunch. 
10F 3:xxxx  
 
Appetite decreased. 
05F 9:xxxx  
 
Wasn‟t hungry. 
05F 14:xxxx  
 
 
 
Wave of nausea for 1min after remedy. >Cold fresh air. 
05F 1:1430  
 
Very big wave of nausea, in intestines. Lots of wind, burping. 
05F 2:xxxx  
 
Nausea after food. Lots of wind. Nausea came and went all day <driving in car. 
05F 3:xxxx  
 
Nausea from savory pastry. 
18F 1:1200  
 
A bit of queasiness. 
20F 2:xxxx  
 
Rumbling or queasy since noon. 
20F 3:xxxx  
 
 59 
Upset continued. Mild spasms. 
20F 5:xxxx  
 
 
Shaky after cup of coffee. 
18F 16:xxxx  
 
Suddenly stomach felt very blocked. 
19M 12:xxxx  
 
Belching from anxiety. 
01F 1:1310  
 
 
4.2.12 ABDOMEN 
Feels distended. 
01F 9:xxxx  
 
Bloated and full of gas. 
03F 14:xxxx  
 
Bloated lower abdomen. 
05F 6:xxxx  
 
Lots of gas. Bloated. 
05F 10:xxxx  
 
Still bloated. Can feel bowel movements. Blocked and bloated all day. Sharp 
constant pain like a sword through my intestines. 
05F 11:xxxx  
 
 
 60 
Still battling. Constant chronic pain this am. 
05F 12:xxxx  
 
Still battling, pain. Lots of gas. To toilet a lot. 
05F 14:xxxx  
 
Bloated. 
12F 6:xxxx  
 
Later stomach unhappy, lots of wind. 
19M 8:xxxx  
 
 
Cramps. Sharp. Above left hip, lateral. For 1-2 seconds. 
09F 7:xxxx  
 
Very noisy with bowel sounds. Feels like bubbles in my intestines. Sudden 
sharp pain in lower abdomen...like a knife (once). 
10F 4:xxxx  
 
 
4.2.13 RECTUM 
Flatulence with headache, smells like sulphur. 
01F 9:0300  
 
Flatulence. Feel bloated. 
13M 2:xxxx  
 
 
Constipation, urging but no movement. 
01F 12:xxxx  
 61 
Constipation >eating (travel?). 
01F 14:xxxx  
 
Once again constipated. 
12F 5:xxxx  
 
Constipated. Bloated, tired. Quite stressed. 
19M 7:xxxx  
 
Very constipated, bloated. 
19M 14:xxxx  
 
 
Bowel cleared for first time in days. 
12F 4:xxxx  
 
 
Diarrhea with gas, watery, frothy. 
03F 13:xxxx  
 
Excessive defecation. 
05F 10:xxxx  
 
Some diarrhea this morning. Sense of spotting or urging followed me till I got 
home. Second evacuation also soft.  
08M 3:xxxx  
 
Sudden profuse clear jellylike discharge. One lot. 
08M 4:xxxx  
 
 
Stomach (bowel?) always feels not completely empty, not going properly. 
12F 2:xxxx  
 62 
 
 
Gone from very loose to constipated in one day. 
19M 14:xxxx  
 
 
Going to the bathroom often but nothing serious, not even gas. 
20 F 4:xxxx  
 
4.2.14 URINE   
Excessive urination. 
05F 10:xxxx  
 
4.2.15 FEMALE GENITALIA/SEX 
Sharp squeezing pain in left ovary. >Sitting, bending left leg. 
01F 1:0945  
 
Pain in symphysis pubis, after walking. Sharp pain. >Sit still. Horrible pain. 
Lasted 1/2hr. 
01F 7:xxxx  
 
Pain on intercourse. Desire present but pleasure absent. Insensible. Bruised 
sensation. 
01F 13:xxxx  
  
 
Increased sexual desire over last few days. 
03F 1:1900  
 
Horny again. 
17F 2:xxxx  
 63 
 
 
Low libido. 
03F 4:xxxx  
 
 
White bland leukorrhea. 
03F 5:xxxx  
 
Thick bland leukorrhea. 
03F 9:xxxx  
 
 
Woken by cramps. As if something grabbing my uterus and wringing/ twisting it. 
Intermittent Pain. Lower back and lower abdomen hurt and feels hot to touch, 
>rubbing. Desire to stretch, >. Pains lasted till 1630 when subsided. Still feel 
crampy, achy. Flow began at 1000. 
10F 17:xxxx  
 
Period pain starting. As if lower back and lower abdomen in a vice. Pain waxes 
and wanes. 
03F 13:xxxx  
 
Period pains worse. Feel miserable. > Lying on my side. After sleep. 
03F 13:xxxx  
 
First day of menses. Tender and sore. 0830 took cataflam for constant pain. 
>Rubbing.1830 took another. 
05F 11:xxxx  
 
Cramps of period pains, usually only start after bleeding begun. 
10F 16:xxxx  
 
 64 
Premenstrual build up exactly 1/2 before. I was so uncomfortable, tired, fretting, 
irritated, etc, and then it passed. Amazing! 
17F Wk3 
 
Period very slight after downpour. 6 days only. 
17F Wk4  
 
 
Slight candida. 
09F 9:xxxx  
 
No vaginal itch or discharge for a few days. 
12F 4:xxxx  
 
 
 
4.2.16 RESPIRATION 
Slight constriction in air pipes in bed. 
03F 6:xxxx  
 
Slight wheeze. 
03F 11:xxxx  
 
 
Much sighing. Desire to sigh, often. Just loves the feeling of expanding lungs to 
capacity and then let it ebb away. 
08M 1:xxxx 
 
Still sighing. More when lying.  
08M 4:xxxx  
 
 
 65 
Hoarse, non productive cough, like cold. 
09F 9:xxxx  
 
4.2.17 Chest 
Sternum pain behind. Oppressive. >After eating, belching. 
01F 1:1310  
 
Sensation of a great weight on my chest (cardiac area). 
10F 1:1630  
 
Heavy feeling. 
04F 0:1000  
 
Slight constriction of chest lying in bed. 
03F 7:xxxx   
 
Slight tight chest. 
03F 10:xxxx  
 
4cm from right of posterior sternum it was tight about 3 minutes, but no pain. 
15M 13:xxxx  
 
Anxiety in chest. 
03F 8:xxxx  
 
 
Slight chest pain on right. 
04F 0:1600  
 
Slight chest pain, upper right. 
04F 4:xxxx  
 66 
 
 
Tender breasts. 
05F 7:xxxx   
 
 
Perspiration under arms a lot. 
05F 10:xxxx   
 
 
Sharp shooting pain in left lower rib cage, antero-lateral. 1-2 seconds. 
09F 7:xxxx  
 
 
Pulse normal rate but pounding. Feels as if heart wants to escape. 
12F 0:1430  
 
 
Chest dry. 
15M 10:xxxx  
 
 
4.2.18 BACK  
Slight neck pain. 
04F 5:xxxx  
 
Neck stiff on right. 
09F 7:xxxx  
 
Neck muscles very painful at night on left. 
15M 1:xxxx  
 
 67 
Neck tired at night as from a heavy load. 
15M 15:xxxx  
 
Neck problem posterior part where the head begins. Start at 0300.No different 
in the day. 
15M 24:xxxx  
 
Stiff neck. 
19M 3:xxxx 
 
 
Tension in left trap.  
01F 0:0800 
 
Back and neck tense. 
03F 4:xxxx  
 
Back and shoulders stiff and aching. >Lying on back. 
05F 3:xxxx  
 
Shoulders lazy to lift up. 
15M 16:xxxx  
 
  
Burning between shoulders. <Right, movement, stretching. 
01F 8:xxxx  
 
Sharp pain anterior to scapulae lateral to vertebrae. 
15M 0:1150  
 
Sharp pain anterior scapula left. Sharp pain at night in the back, all over body. 
15M 5:xxxx  
 
 68 
Slight stiffness in back from right shoulder blade to neck. 
19M 3:xxxx  
 
Tense stiff across back. 
19M 8:xxxx  
 
Tense knotted back, need to be clicked. 
05F 10:xxxx  
 
 
Tight in lumbar region, > get up and move. 
12F 4:xxxx  
 
  
Bones in head and back are sore. 
05F 3:xxxx  
 
 
Desire to stretch. For a while now, forgot to mention it. Get a perverse pleasure,  
especially the back. 
08M 4:xxxx  
 
 
Woke with tender kidneys. 
19M 1:0640  
 
  
 
4.2.19 EXTREMITIES 
Left thumb muscle twitch. 
03F 1:1220  
 
 69 
Muscle twitches in left arm. 
03F 3:xxxx  
 
Muscle twitch in right arm, left leg later (resting). 
03F 10:xxxx  
 
Muscle twitch left arm and left side. 
03F 11:xxxx  
 
Twitch in hand and forearm on left. 
03F 14:xxxx  
 
Left arm twitch. Unusual amount of muscle twitches. Twitching on rest/falling 
asleep. 
03F 15:xxxx  
 
 
Sore shoulder on left. 
13M 1:xxxx  
 
 
Cramp in left leg when walking. >Rubbing. 
05F 6:xxxx  
 
 
Dull uncomfortable pain in right hip antero-laterally. 
09F 0:1610  
 
Right knee aching and painful (lateral) when pressure put on it. 
09F 6:xxxx  
 
Right knee pain, sore to walk, lateral and posterior. 
09F 7:xxxx  
 70 
 
Sciatica < sitting.  
12F 3:xxxx  
 
Ligaments very painful. 
15M 5:xxxx  
 
Pain in my joints (a rainy day). 
19M 4:xxxx  
  
 
Small boil inside left thigh above knee. 
19M 2:xxxx  
 
Small boil on left bum. 
19M 4:xxxx  
 
Rash inside arms. 
19M 9:xxxx  
 
Found rash inside legs, been there a few days at least. Dry raised skin. Looks a 
bit stretched. 
19M 10:xxxx  
 
Very dry feet. Sweaty hands and armpits. 
05F 1:1100  
 
Dry skin between toes on left. 
13M 7:xxxx  
 
Slight athletes foot on left. 
13M 10:xxxx  
 
 71 
Hands sensitive to cold. >rub and warmth.  
05F 10:xxxx  
 
Fingers went from cold to warm. 
01F 0:1200  
 
 
 
4.2.20 SLEEP 
No desire for sleep. Seems like a waste of time. 
01F 1:1310  
 
 
Could not sleep deeply. 
01F 9:xxxx  
 
Restless night. Up at all hours. 
05F 9:xxxx  
 
Light sleep from 0230. 
01F 10:xxxx  
 
Difficulty falling asleep. 
04F 3:xxxx  
 
 
Bad night. 
06F 2:xxxx  
 
Tossed and turned all night as left hip too sore to sleep on, right side pins and 
needles. Clenched jaws on back. 
17F 1:xxxx  
 72 
 
Disturbed, woke often. 
01F 14:xxxx  
 
Woke at 0330 for no reason. 
08M 3:xxxx  
 
Woke at 02h00… could not do anything. I feel tired even at 0900. 
15M 19:xxxx  
 
Woke early. 
05F 5:xxxx  
 
Woke early again. Can‟t sleep late! 
05F 6:xxxx  
 
Tired on waking. 
01F 7:xxxx  
 
Felt I needed more sleep when I woke up. 
13M 0:xxxx  
 
Tired on waking. 
05F 1:xxxx  
 
Woke feeling awful, heavy feeling of dread in my chest. 
03F 12:xxxx  
 
Woke feeling I'd had a proper sleep. 
05F 16:xxxx  
 
Desire to stay in bed >Getting up. 
01F 2:xxxx   
 73 
 
Slept through to 0900 (unusual). 
01F 3:xxxx  
 
 
Yawning, faint, pooped. >Eating. Usually only at 1500. 
01F 10:xxxx  
 
Yawning all afternoon. 
10F 0:1330  
 
Really tired in afternoon. 1hr nap. Felt good. 
13M 1:0930  
 
Drowsy and tired…could not sleep at night. 
15M 17:xxxx  
 
Slept all day. 
05F 15:xxxx  
 
Desire to sleep. 
06F 3:xxxx  
 
 
Thick stuffy nose, can‟t sleep. 
01F 11:xxxx  
 
 
 
 74 
4.2.21 DREAMS 
ISOLATION  
Of wearing a plaster of paris mask, bees trying to get in, not too afraid. Of being 
on a small tropical island … 
13M 2:xxxx  
 
Embarrassment in front of people, being laughed at. 
03F 1:0530  
 
Shut out, lonely rejected.  
03F 12:xxxx  
 
Dancing a short number, furious to be on stage, as I hate acting or dancing on 
stage. 
17F 2:xxxx  
 
 
CHAOTIC/ FRAGMENTED 
A lot of people at home. A big ceremony…shield spears and 
sticks…slaughtering cows…plenty of meat…waiting for food…right nose 
running mucus (clear)…not eating…left side was blocked…blood 
blocked…opened it a little…a little blood came out…woke up…after that not 
scared. 
15M 0:0658  
 
Busy, disjointed, lots of things happening, small flashes of scenes. 
12F 4:xxxx  
 
Chaos dream. 
12F 6:xxxx  
 
 
 75 
PARENTS/RELATIVES 
Of being on a small tropical island with grandmother and mother, needed to get 
to other side, but too far for grandmother. I went into sea and there was a sand 
bank going all the way to where we were meant to meet. 
13M 2:xxxx  
 
Owning plot on my own with lots of pine trees on one side and mentioning I 
want to chop them down and my dad going for me as he always did. Memory of 
having to work with the horses - dust kicking, running in small spaces and being 
terrified. As I always was. Seemed to be a memory of how I was always 
intimidated by parents. 
17F 3:xxxx  
 
Faint memory of mum in dream. 
17F 6:xxxx  
 
Of dead grandfather. It was weird. 
06F 4:xxxx  
 
Of day at beach with family and friends. 
06F 6:xxxx 
 
  
PANIC/THREAT/EXCITEMENT 
Of being chased by a bear. 
08M 2:xxxx  
 
Of conflict. 
19M 3:xxxx  
 
 
 76 
Nightmare. Someone entered room, was paralyzed, screamed a strangled 
scream and woke. 
01F 17:xxxx  
 
Of being threatened and hurried. 
01F 4:xxxx  
 
Huge discomfort around Adams apple on inside of throat. Like it has been 
banged. Nausea and racing feeling through body. Very uncomfortable. 
17F 1:xxxx  
 
Epic, exciting, challenging (knights and dragons). 
01F 7:xxxx 
 
Intense dream about freedom. 
19M 6:xxxx  
 
Sexually charged but not sexual at all. People waving red shirts. 
01F 10:xxxx  
 
  
OTHER   
Of visiting ex girl friend with present girl friend. 
13M 1:xxxx  
 
4.2.22 SKIN 
Bumps and red spots appearing. Rash between legs, >any cream.  
05F 1:2200  
 
Dry, especially lips, inside thighs, breasts. 
05F 15:xxxx  
 
 77 
4.2.23 GENERALS 
 
TEMPERATURE 
Sensation of heat all over. 
01F 0:0800  
 
Sensation of heat all over, head and chest especially. 
01F 0:1200  
 
Heat in upper body with some perspiration. 
01F 1:1310  
 
Sensation of heat <upper body >uncovering. Exhausting pain. 
01F 9:xxxx  
 
Feel hot/warm all over. 
08M 3:xxxx  
 
Hot and cold during the day. 
15M 4:xxxx  
 
I feel some cold. 10mins and disappeared. 
15M 0:1150  
 
I sweat. Feel colder than before. 
15M 4:xxxx  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 78 
FOOD 
Strong desire for coffee.  No desire for cheese for a long time. 
01F 16:xxxx 
 
Craving coffee. 
12F 3:xxxx 
 
Craving coffee. 
18F 1:0900  
  
Thirst for hot drinks. 
03F 4:xxxx  
 
Desire hot drinks, food (comforting). 
03F 8:xxxx  
 
Thirsty. Desire for hot drinks. Aversion to cold is much less of late, a big thing 
for me. 
03F 9:xxxx  
 
Quite dehydrated. 
19M 1:0640  
 
 
Craving sweets. 
12F 3:xxxx  
 
Craving sweet things. 
18F 0:2030  
 
Wanting sweet stuff. 
18F 1:0700  
 
 79 
Craving sweets. 
18F 2:xxxx  
 
Preference for plainer things. 
18F 5:xxxx  
 
Craving chocolate milkshake. 
04F 4:xxxx  
 
Craving chocolate. 
04F 6:xxxx  
 
 
ENERGY 
Tired. 
03F 1:0930  
 
Tired most of the day. 
04F 0:1000  
 
Energetic most of the day. Tired in the evening. 
04F 7:xxxx  
 
Energy high by evening. 
04F 5:xxxx  
 
Increased energy at midday. Tired in afternoon. 
04F 8:xxxx  
 
Tired in the morning, like a person who lifts heavy things. 
15M 16:xxxx  
 
 
 80 
Usually shaky by now if haven‟t eaten but feel fine, unusual. 
01F 7:xxxx  
 
Nervous system has not been well. Exhausted due to no sleep and lack of 
energy. 
17F wk4  
 
Unwell, tired, general malaise 
19M 7:xxxx  
 
Feel sick, drained. Whole body aching. >Rest, lying. 
05F 2:xxxx  
 
Feeling strong and comfortable. 
17F 6:xxxx  
 
OTHER 
Looked and felt bloated. 
05F 3:xxxx  
 
 
4.2.24 Toxicology 
Hypotension and Tachycardia (Wildi et al, 2001:54) 
Hypotensive (82/50 mm Hg) ten minutes after admission 767 
Hypotension due to vasodilation and plasma leakage (Wildi et al, 2001:54) 
Profound irreversible hypotension due to reduced cardiac output and 
vasodilation (Marsh et al 1997:767) 
 
Haemorrhage affecting the soft tissues (Marsh et al 1997:764) 
Profound capillary disruption via separation of the endothelial cells from one 
another (Marsh et al 1997:764) 
Angioneurotic oedema, without dyspnoea or stridor (Wildi et al, 2001:54) 
 81 
Truncal erythroderma (Wildi et al, 2001:54) 
Swollen eyelids, lips, tongue (Wildi et al, 2001:54) 
Petechiae on tongue and palate (Wildi et al, 2001:54) 
Swelling, haemorrhagic blisters at site (Wildi et al, 2001:54) 
Massive haemorrhage (Wildi et al, 2001:54) 
Severe macrohaematuria and haematochezia (Wildi et al, 2001:54) 
 
Local necrosis at the puncture sites (Marsh et al 1997:768) 
Superficial necrosis at site (Wildi et al, 2001:54) 
 
Condition like disseminated intravascular coagulation from the gabonase 
enzyme (Wildi et al, 2001:54) 
True disseminated intravascular coagulation evidenced by the profuse bleeding 
(Marsh et al 1997:767) 
Rapid DIC with deposition of solid thrombi in the vascular tree (Marsh et al 
1997:768) 
Unstable circulation, severe coagulation disorder (Wildi et al, 2001:54) 
Markedly decreased platelet count (15x109  per litre at the lowest count) (Marsh 
et al 1997:767) 
Mildly thrombocytopaenic (lowest platelet count 101x109 per litre) (Marsh et al 
1997:767) 
 
Severely reduced cardiac output and ventricular filling and thus complete 
haemodynamic arrest and death (Marsh et al 1997:766) 
Disturbances of atrio-ventricular conduction (Marsh et al 1997:765) 
 82 
4.3 RUBRICS 
 (NB: * = Symptoms that appear in Bit-a) 
4.3.1 MIND 
*Mind, Absentminded         S1 
Mind, Anger           S8 
 
*Mind, Anxiety          S14 
Mind, Anxiety, alternating with, contentment      S16 
Mind, Anxiety, alternating with tranquillity      S16 
Mind, Anxiety, alternating with, cheerfulness      S16 
Mind, Anxiety, excitement, from        S18 
 
Mind, Aversion, persons, all to        S24 
Mind, Brooding          S27 
Mind, Capriciousness         S28 
 
*Mind, Cheerful          S30 
Mind, Cheerful, sadness, after        S32 
 
Mind, Company, aversion to        S34 
*Mind, Company, desire for        S34 
 
Mind, Concentration difficult        S36 
Mind, Concentration difficult, attention cannot fix     S36 
*Mind, Concentration, difficult, studying (=reading)     S36 
 
Mind, Confidence want of self        S37 
Mind, Confidences, want of, support, desires, family and friends from  S37 
Mind, Confident          S37 
 
*Mind, Confusion          S37 
 83 
Mind, Confusion, waking, on        S38 
Mind, Confusion, mental exertion from       S40 
 
Mind, Consolation, aversion       N 
 
Mind, Conversation, aggravates        S42 
Mind, Conversation aversion        S43 
 
Mind, Decisive          S46 
 
*Mind, Delusions, alone, being        S52 
Mind, Delusion, appreciated, she is not       S52 
*Mind, Delusion, body, out of       S53 
Mind, Delusion, body, ugly, body looks        S55 
Mind, Delusion, child, sick child, she is       N 
Mind, Delusion division         S60 
*Mind, Delusion, enlarged, body is       S61 
Mind, Delusion, friendless, he is        S65 
Mind, Delusion, herself, she is not       S68 
Mind, Delusion, ignorant, she is         N 
*Mind, Delusion, medicine, taken, he had, placebo  
*Mind, Delusion, world, from the, separated, he is     S79 
Mind, Delusion, separated, he were separated from himself    S79 
*Mind, Delusion separated, body and mind are      S79 
Mind, Delusion separated, body and mind are, talking, while    N 
 
Mind, Detached          S91 
 
*Mind, Dullness         S95 
*Mind, Dullness, morning         S96 
 
Mind, Ecstasy          S99 
Mind, Excitement, afternoon        S102 
 84 
 
Mind, Fear           S106 
Mind, Fear, death, of         S109 
Mind, Fear, breath away, takes        S107 
Mind, Fear, sudden, night, waking, on       S116 
Mind, Fear, waking, on         S117 
 
Mind, Firmness          S118 
*Mind, Forgetful          S119 
 
Mind, Forsaken          S120   
*Mind, Forsaken, isolation, sensation of      S120 
 
Mind, Frightened, waking, on        S121 
 
Mind, Ideas abundant, clearness of mind      S131 
Mind, Ideas abundant, clearness of mind, waking, on     N 
 
*Mind, Impatience          S132 
Mind, Indifference, work, with aversion to      S136 
Mind, Insecurity, mental         S140 
Mind, Irresolution          S140 
 
*Mind, Irritability          S141 
Mind, Irritability, morning        S142 
Mind, Irritability, alternating, cheerfulness, with      S142 
Mind, Irritability, family, to her        S144 
Mind, Irritable, overheated, when becomes     N 
Mind, Irritability, waking on        S145 
Mind, Irritability, sleepiness, with        S145 
*Mind, Irritability, trifles         S145 
Mind, Irritability, 16h, until         N 
 
 85 
Mind, Joy           S146 
Mind, Loathing, oneself at         S153 
Mind, Marriage unendurable, idea of seemed      S157 
Mind, Medicine, desire for more        N 
 
Mind, Memory, weakness, done, for what just      S159 
Mind, Memory, weakness, facts, recent       S159 
Mind, Memory, weakness, heard, for what he has     S159 
Mind, Mental exertion, aversion        S161 
 
Mind, Mistakes, time in, confounds days      S164 
*Mind, Mistakes writing in         S164 
*Mind, Mistakes, writing in, omitting letters      S165 
*Mind, Mistakes, writing in, transposing letters      S165 
 
Mind, Mood changeable         S166 
Mind, Mood, alternating         S166 
 
Mind, Occupation ameliorates        S172 
Mind, Offended easily         S172  
Mind, Pessimistic          S173 
Mind, Pities herself          S173 
 
Mind, Prostration of mind, night        S175 
*Mind, Prostration          S175 
Mind, Prostration, vexation, from        S176 
 
Mind, Quiet, wants to be         S177 
Mind, Rest, desire for         S182 
Mind, Restlessness, anxious        S183 
Mind, Restlessness, move must        S186 
 
*Mind, Sadness          S187 
 86 
Mind, Sadness, afternoon         S189 
Mind, Sadness, alone, when        S189 
Mind, Sadness, afternoon, ameliorates       S189 
Mind, Sadness, evening         S189 
Mind, Sadness, alone, when        S189 
Mind, Sadness, company aggravates      S190 
Mind, Sadness, occupation ameliorates       S192 
Mind, Sadness, trifles         S192 
Mind, Sadness, waking on        S193 
Mind, Sadness, when unoccupied       S193 
 
Mind, Sensitive          S194 
Mind, Sensitive, criticism, to        S195 
Mind, Sensitive, noise, to         S195 
Mind, Sensitive, reprimands, to        S196 
Mind, Sighing          S200 
 
*Mind, Spaced out feeling         S202 
Mind, Slowness          S202 
Mind, Timidity          S220 
Mind, Taciturn          S213 
 
Mind, Thoughts, disconnected        S216 
Mind, Thoughts, past, of the        S217 
Mind, Thoughts, persistent        S217 
Mind, Thoughts rapid        S217 
Mind, Thoughts, repetition of        S218 
 
Mind, Tranquillity          S221 
 
Mind, Weeping, causeless        S229 
Mind, Weeping, consolation aggravates       S230 
Mind, Weeping, consolation, comforted, no desire to be    S230 
 87 
Mind, Weeping, consolation, for want of       S230 
Mind, Weeping, desire to         S230    
Mind, Weeping, forsaken, feeling from       S231  
Mind, Weeping, mental exertion ameliorates      S231 
Mind, Weeping, silent         S232 
Mind, Weeping, vexation, from        S232 
 
 
4.3.2 VERTIGO 
*Vertigo           S235 
Vertigo, Afternoon          S235 
Vertigo, Closing eyes, ameliorates       S237 
Vertigo, Falling from a height, as if       S239 
Vertigo, Looking steadily         S240 
Vertigo, Sitting, ameliorates        S243 
 
  
4.3.3 HEAD 
*Head, Congestion          S250 
Head, Constriction          S252 
Head, Constriction, temples        S254 
Head, Constriction, temples, extending to, jaw     N 
 
Head, Fullness          S259 
Head, Heaviness, forehead        S268 
Head, Heaviness, forehead, eyes, desire to close     N 
 
Head, Pain, morning, 10h until        S275 
Head, Pain, morning, rising, until noon       S276 
Head, Pain, afternoon, 13h        S276 
Head, Pain, afternoon, 17h.        S276 
 88 
Head, Pain, evening         S276 
 
Head, Pain, accompanied by ear pain       N 
Head, Pain, accompanied by, eye, pain       S277 
Head, Pain, accompanied by, nausea       S278 
Head, Pain, accompanied by, neck, pain in      S278 
Head, Pain, accompanied by, neck, pain in, nape of neck    S278 
 
Head, Pain, candy after         S280 
Head, Pain, clothing about the neck aggravates     S280 
Head, Pain, cold, becoming        S281 
Head, Pain, cold, mouth, from anything cold in      S281 
Head, Pain, coryza, with         S281 
Head, Pain, drinks, cold, aggravate       N 
Head, Pain, drinks, cold from        S282 
Head, Pain, heat ameliorates        S283 
Head, Pain, lying, back, on, while       S285 
Head, Pain, lying, back, on, while, aggravates      N 
Head, Pain, lying, side, on, ameliorates       S285 
Head, Pain, motion, aggravates        S286 
Head, Pain, occupation ameliorates       S287 
Head, Pain, paroxysmal         S287 
Head, Pain, periodical         S288 
Head, Pain, sleep, after, ameliorates       S290 
Head, Pain, sleep, waked from sleep by headache     S290 
Head, Pain, stooping, from        S291 
Head, Pain, thinking on it, aggravates       N 
Head, Pain, violent          S292 
 
Head, Pain, extending to, eyes, left eye       S295 
Head, Pain, extending to, shoulder       S295 
 
 89 
Head, Pain, bones          S295 
*Head, Pain, forehead         S296 
Head, Pain, forehead, left         S296 
Head, Pain, forehead, left, extending to, right      S296 
Head, Pain, forehead, periodical        S298 
Head, Pain, forehead, periodical, hourly       N 
Head, Pain, forehead, extending to, cheeks      S300 
Head, Pain, forehead, extending to neck      S300 
Head, Pain, forehead, extending to, teeth      S300 
Head, Pain, forehead, extending to, temples      S300 
Head, Pain, forehead, eyes above       S301 
Head, Pain, forehead, eyes, above, close the eyes, compels him to  S302 
Head, Pain, forehead, eyes behind       S303  
Head, Pain, forehead, eyes, behind, left eye      N 
Head, Pain, forehead, eyes between       S303 
Head, Pain, forehead, nose, above root of      S303 
Head, Pain, forehead, nose, above root of, heat aggravates    N 
Head, Pain, forehead, nose, above root of, rest ameliorates    N 
 
Head, Pain, occiput         S303 
Head, Pain, occiput, closing eyes ameliorates      S304 
Head, Pain, occiput, extending to ears       S306 
Head, Pain, occiput, extending to ears, left ear      N 
*Head, Pain, occiput, extending to, neck, down back of    S307 
Head, Pain, occiput, extending to, shoulders      S307 
Head, Pain, occiput, extending to, left shoulder     N 
 
Head, Pain, sides, left         S308 
Head, Pain, side, one side, extending to eye      S308 
Head, Pain, side, left         S308 
 
*Head, Pain, temples         S310 
*Head, Pain, temples, left         S310 
 90 
Head, Pain, temples, morning, waking on      S310 
Head, Pain, temples, heat ameliorates       S311 
Head, Pain, temples, lying ameliorates       S311 
Head, Pain, temples, lying, left, ameliorates     N 
Head, Pain, temples, motion        S311 
*Head, Pain, temples and forehead       S312 
Head, Pain, temples and occiput        S312 
Head, Pain, temples, extending to eye      S312 
Head, Pain, temples, extending to face       S312 
Head, Pain, temples, extending to teeth       S312 
 
Head, Pain, burning, forehead        S317 
Head, Pain, cutting, forehead        S321 
Head, Pain, cutting, lying, ameliorates       S321 
Head, Pain, dull pain, forehead        S326 
 
Head, Pain, pressing, bending head forward      S330 
Head, Pain, pressing, stooping, on       S332 
Head, Pain, pressing, extending to neck, nape of     S333 
Head, Pain, pressing, forehead, morning, waking, on     S333 
Head, Pain, pressing, forehead, bending down, on bending head   S333 
Head, Pain, pressing, forehead, stooping, while     S335 
Head, Pain, pressing, occiput, burning       S337 
Head, Pain, pressing, occiput, extending to neck     S337 
 
Head, Pain, pulling, like, eye, left eye       N 
Head, Pain, pulsating         S342 
Head, Pain, pulsating, sides, left        S342 
Head, Pain, sore, temples         S346 
Head, Pain, stitching, pulsating        S348 
Head, Pain, stitching, forehead, eyes, over      S350 
Head, Pain, waves in         S361 
Head, Pain, waves in         S361 
 91 
 
4.3.4 EYES/ VISION 
Eye, Discolouration, red, morning       S379 
Eye, Dryness, morning         S380 
Eye, Enlargement, sensation of        S380 
Eye, Enlargement, sensation of, left       S381 
*Eye, Heaviness          S383 
Eye, Inflammation, lids, upper, right       S386 
Eye, Itching, morning         S388 
 
Eye, Pain, evening          S392 
Eye, Pain, pressure aggravates        S394 
Eye, Pain, aching          S396 
Eye, Pain, burning          S396 
Eye, Pain, cutting, lid         S399 
Eye, Pain, drawing, backward, the eyeball      S399 
Eye, Pain, sand, as from         S402 
Eye, Pain, sand, as from, rubbing ameliorates      N 
Eye, Pain, sore          S402 
Eye, Pain, sore, left         S403 
Eye, Pain, sore, night         S403 
Eye, Pain, sore, motion, lids of        S403 
Eye, Pain, sore lids          S403  
Eye, Pain, sore lids, right lid        N 
 
Eye, Photophobia, light, daylight        S407 
Eye, Photophobia, light, sunlight        S407 
Eye, Sensitive, touch, to         S409 
 
Eye, Swelling, left          S411 
Eye, Swelling, morning         S411 
Eye, Swelling, sensation, as if               S411 
 92 
 
Vision, Accommodation, slow, too       S417 
*Vision, Blurred          S417 
Vision, Dim, reading         S423 
Vision, Foggy, headache, during-mist before eyes     S426 
 
4.3.5 EAR 
Ear, Formication, behind the ear        S437 
Ear, Fullness, sensation of        S437 
Ear, itching, meatus, right         S439 
Ear, itching, meatus, scratching aggravates     S439 
Ear, itching, meatus, rubbing aggravates      S439 
*Ear, noises, buzzing         S442 
 
Ear, Pain, right          S449 
Ear, Pain, left, extending to left eye, headache, during    N 
Ear, Pain, behind the ear, right        S453 
Ear, Pain, behind the ear, pulsating       S453 
Ear, Pain, lobe          S453 
Ear, Pain, lobe, edge of         N 
Ear, Pain, lobe, right, then left        N 
Ear, Pain, meatus          S453 
Ear, Pain, piercing          S457 
Ear, Pain, soreness         S458 
Ear, Pain, soreness, behind the ear       S458 
Ear, Pain, soreness, left ear        S458 
Ear, Pain, soreness, front of ear, in       S458 
Ear, Pain, soreness, lobe         S458 
Ear, Pain, stitching          S458 
 93 
 
4.3.6 NOSE 
Nose, Catarrh, right         S471 
Nose, Catarrh, postnasal         S472 
 
Nose, Coryza, morning         S473 
Nose, Coryza, discharge, with, morning       S474 
Nose, Coryza, discharge, without       S474 
Nose, Coryza, headache, with        S475 
 
Nose, Discharge, left         S477 
Nose, Discharge, daytime         S477 
Nose, Discharge, morning         S477 
Nose, Discharge, morning, rising, after       N 
Nose, Discharge, albuminous        S477 
Nose, Discharge, clear         S477 
Nose, Discharge, copious         S477 
Nose, Discharge, egg white, like        S478 
Nose, Discharge, salty         S479 
Nose, Discharge, thick         S480 
Nose, Discharge, watery         S480 
Nose, Discharge, watery, left        S480 
Nose, Discharge, watery, morning       S480 
Nose, Discharge, watery, cold room in       S480 
Nose, Discharge, watery, coryza, without      S480 
Nose, Discharge, yellow         S480 
 
Nose, Dryness, inside         S482 
Nose, Dryness, inside, left         S482 
Nose, Obstruction          S488 
Nose, Obstruction, right         S488 
Nose, Obstruction, left         S489 
 94 
Nose, Obstruction, morning        S489 
Nose, Obstruction, night         S489 
Nose, Obstruction, accompanied by, discharge, watery    S489 
Nose, Obstruction, blowing ameliorates       S489 
Nose, Obstruction, Warm room        S490 
 
Nose, Pain, dryness, from         S492 
Nose, Pain, pressure aggravates        S492 
Nose, Pain, burning         S493 
Nose, Pain, burning, left         S493 
Nose, Pain, rawness, blowing, after       S495 
Nose, Pain, sore          S495 
Nose, Pain, sore, posterior nares        S495 
 
Nose, Smell, acute          S497 
 
Nose, Sneezing          S498 
Nose, Sneezing, night         S499 
Nose, Sneezing, cold air in        S499 
Nose, Sneezing, coryza, without        S499 
Nose, Sneezing, eating ameliorates       N 
Nose, Sneezing, frequent         S499 
 
Nose, Tension, inside         S501 
 
4.3.7 FACE 
Face, Coldness, perspiration with       N 
Face, Dry, lips          S513 
Face, Heat, flushes          S526 
Face, Heat, flushes, cheeks        S527 
Face, Itching          S528 
 
 95 
Face, Pain, pressing         S539 
Face, Pain, pressing, maxillary sinus       S539 
 
Face, Sensitive, cold to, lips        N 
Face, swelling, eyes around, morning       S546 
 
Face, Tension, eyes, below        S548 
Face, Tension, jaws         S548 
*Face, Tension, jaws, lower        S548 
Face, Tension, jaws, lower, right       N 
Face, Tension, mouth and nose, around      S548 
  
 
4.3.8 MOUTH  
*Mouth, Dryness, lips         S567 
 
Mouth, Itching, tongue         S573 
Mouth, Itching, tongue, under        N 
 
Mouth, Pain, sore, palate         S581 
Mouth, Pain, sore, palate, right        N 
Mouth, Pain, sore, tongue         S581 
Mouth, Pain, sore, tongue, spots        S581 
 
Mouth, Saliva, saltish         S584 
Mouth, Salivation, accompanied by, nausea      S587 
Mouth, Salivation, profuse         S588 
 
Mouth, Sensitive, tongue         S589 
 
Mouth, Taste metallic         S596 
 96 
Mouth, Taste metallic, remedy, after       N 
 
Mouth, Ulcers          S600 
 
4.3.9 THROAT 
Throat, Anxiety and apprehension in throat      S621 
 
Throat, Coldness, sensation of        S622 
Throat, Dryness, morning, waking       S624 
Throat, Dryness, morning, waking on       S625 
Throat, Dryness, esophagus        S625 
 
*Throat, Hawk, disposition to, mucus in the throat and mouth, thick   S626 
*Throat, Lump, sensation of a        S628 
Throat, Lump, sensation of a, swallowing, on      S629 
 
Throat, Mucus          S630 
Throat, Mucus in throat 
Throat, Mucus, morning         S630 
 
*Throat, Pain          S631 
Throat, Pain, drinking/eating ameliorates      S632 
Throat, Pain, drinks, cold         S632 
Throat, Pain, swallowing         S633 
Throat, Pain, burning, esophagus       S635 
Throat, Pain scratching         S637 
Throat, Pain, sore          S637 
Throat, Pain, sore, accompanied by, dryness      S638 
Throat, Pain, sore, waking, on        S638 
Throat, Pain, splinter, as from a        S638 
 
Throat, Tension          S644 
 97 
 
4.3.10 EXTERNAL THROAT 
External throat, Pain, soreness        S650 
External throat, Sensitive, at angles of jaw      S651 
 
 
4.3.11 STOMACH 
Stomach, Anxiety          S653 
 
*Stomach, Appetite, capricious        S653 
Stomach, Appetite, ravenous, afternoon       S655 
 
Stomach, Eructations, anxiety, during       N 
Stomach, Lump, sensation of a        S678 
 
Stomach, Pain, aching         S690 
Stomach, Pain, burning         S690 
Stomach, Pain, burning, noon        S690 
Stomach, Pain, burning, eating after, ameliorates     S691 
Stomach, Pain, sore         S697 
 
*Stomach, Thirst          S703 
*Stomach, Thirst, morning         S703 
Stomach, Thirst, afternoon        S703 
Stomach, Thirst, evening         S703 
 
4.3.12 ABDOMEN 
*Abdomen, Distension         S721 
Abdomen, Distension, night        S721 
Abdomen, Distension, morning, waking, on      S721 
 98 
Abdomen, Distension, constipation, during      S721 
Abdomen, Distension, hypogastrium       S723 
*Abdomen, Distension, flatus, from       S722 
 
*Abdomen, Flatulence         S725 
Abdomen, Heat, menses, during        S729 
Abdomen, Movements, in         S732 
Abdomen, Noises          S733 
 
Abdomen, Pain          S733 
Abdomen, Pain, morning         S733 
Abdomen, Pain, cramping, ilium, crest of, left      S755 
Abdomen, Pain, cramping, ilium, crest of, above     S755 
Abdomen, Pain, cutting, hypogastrium       S759 
Abdomen, Pain, stitching, sudden, once       N 
 
4.3.13 RECTUM/STOOL 
Rectum, Constipation, eating ameliorates      N 
*Rectum, Constipation, ineffectual urging and straining    S791 
Rectum, Constipation, insufficient       S791 
 
Rectum, Diarrhea, morning        S793 
Rectum, Diarrhea, noon         S793 
Rectum, Diarrhea, alternating with, constipation     S794 
 
Rectum, Flatus          S801 
Rectum, Flatus, night         S802 
Rectum, Flatus, night, accompanied by, head pain    N 
Rectum, Flatus, offensive, eggs, spoiled      S803 
 
Rectum, Inactivity of rectum        S806 
Rectum, Urging, sudden         S819 
 99 
Rectum, Urging, walking, while        S819 
 
Stool, copious          S822 
Stool, mucus, jelly-like         S825 
Stool, watery, frothy         S828 
 
4.3.14 KIDNEYS 
Kidneys, pain, morning, waking, on       S849 
 
4.3.15 URINE   
*Urine, Copious          S872 
 
4.3.16 FEMALE GENITALIA/SEX 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Coition, enjoyment absent     S908 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Coition, Painful       S909 
 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Eruptions        S910 
 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Leukorrhoea, bland      S915 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Leukorrhoea, thick      S919 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Leukorrhoea, white      S920 
 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Menses painful, beginning at     S928 
 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, ovaries, left      S936 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, ovaries, left, Bending left leg, ameliorates  N 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, ovaries, sitting, ameliorates    N 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, uterus, extending to back    S938 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, uterus, gradually comes and goes   S938 
 100 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, uterus, menses, during     S938 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, uterus, paroxysmal     S938 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, uterus, rubbing ameliorates    N 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, uterus, lying, side, ameliorates    N 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, uterus, Sleep ameliorates    N 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, vagina, coition, during     S939 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, bearing down, uterus and region, walking 
aggravates           S940 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, cramping, menses, before    S941 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, cramping, uterus, menses during   S941 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, pressing, ovaries, left     S944 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, sharp, ovaries      S945 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, sharp, ovaries left     N 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, sore, vagina, coition during    S945 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Pain, squeezing, uterus      S945 
 
*Female Genitalia/Sex, Sexual desire, increased     S948 
Female Genitalia/Sex, Sexual desire, diminished     S948 
 
 
4.3.17 RESPIRATION 
Respiration, Coldness, of breath        S972 
*Respiration, Deep, des to breathe       S973 
Respiration, Difficult, evening, bed, in       S974 
Respiration, Difficult, Lying, while       S976 
Respiration, Impeded, lying, while       S980 
*Respiration, Sighing         S982 
Respiration, Sighing, lying, when        N 
Respiration, Wheezing, night        S983 
 
 
 101 
4.3.18 CHEST 
Chest, Anxiety, in         S1025 
Chest, Constriction, lying, while       S1030 
Chest, Constriction, sternum, behind, right     N 
Chest, Dryness         S1033 
 
*Chest, Oppression        S1043 
Chest, Oppression, heart        S1045 
Chest, Oppression, sternum, behind      S1045 
 
Chest, Pain, eating, ameliorates       S1047 
Chest, Pain, eructations, ameliorate      S1047 
Chest, Pain, sides, right        S1051 
Chest, Pain, sternum, behind       S1054 
Chest, Pain, sore, mammae       S1068 
Chest, Pain, stitching, ribs, lower, left      S1074 
 
*Chest, Palpitation of heart       S1080 
Chest, Perspiration, axilla        S1085 
 
 
4.3.19 BACK  
Back, Pain, lying, back, on, ameliorates      S1105 
Back, Pain, cervical region, left       S1108 
Back, Pain, cervical region, left, night      N 
Back, Pain, cervical region, night       S1108 
Back, Pain, burning, dorsal region, scapulae, between/right   S1127 
Back, Pain, burning, dorsal region, scapulae, between, motion aggravates  N 
Back, Pain, sore, cervical region       S1139 
Back, Pain, sore, spine        S1141 
Back, Pain, stitching, night       S1142 
Back, Pain, stitching, dorsal region, scapula, left, under   S1144 
 102 
Back, Pain, stitching, dorsal region, scapulae, under    S1145 
 
*Back, Stiffness, cervical region       S1153 
*Back, Stiffness, cervical region, right      S1153 
 
Back, Stretch, desire to        N 
 
Back, Tension         S1154 
Back, Tension, cervical region       S1154 
Back, Tension, cervical region, left      S1154 
Back, Tension, dorsal region       S1155 
Back, Tension, lumbar region       S1155 
Back, Tension, lumbar region, Motion, ameliorates    N 
 
4.3.20 EXTREMITIES 
Extremities, Cramps, lower limbs, walking, while    S1179 
Extremities, Dryness, foot        S1190 
Extremities, Dryness, toes, between      N 
 
Extremities, Eruptions, upper limb, rash      S1193 
Extremities, Eruptions, nates, boils      S1201 
Extremities, Eruptions, lower limb, thigh, rash     S1202 
Extremities, Eruptions, thigh, boils      S1202 
Extremities, Eruptions, toes, between      S1205 
 
Extremities, Jerking, upper limb, right      S1229 
Extremities, Jerking, upper limb, left      S1229 
Extremities, Jerking, forearm       S1229 
Extremities, Jerking, hand        S1230 
Extremities, Jerking, thumb, left       N 
Extremities, Jerking, lower limb, left      S1230 
 
 103 
Extremities, Pain, shoulder, left       S1252 
Extremities, Pain, aching, hip       S1280 
Extremities, Pain, aching, knee       S1280 
Extremities, Pain, aching, knee, pressure aggravates   N  
Extremities, Pain, aching, knee, walking, while     S1280 
 
Extremities, Perspiration, hand       S1364 
Extremities, Perspiration, hands, accompanied by, dryness, feet  N 
Extremities, Sensitive, cold, to, fingers      S1371 
 
4.3.21 SLEEP 
Sleep, Bad          S1413 
*Sleep, Disturbed         S1413 
*Sleep, Falling asleep, difficult       S1417 
Sleep, Light          S1419 
 
Sleep, Restless         S1422 
Sleep, Remain in bed, desire to       S1424 
 
Sleep, Sleepiness, daytime       S1425 
Sleep, Sleepiness, afternoon       S1426 
Sleep, Sleepiness, afternoon/ 13h      S1426 
Sleep, Sleepiness, waking, after       S1431 
 
Sleep, Sleeplessness        S1433 
Sleep, Sleeplessness, Coryza, from      S1437 
 
Sleep, Unrefreshing        S1443 
Sleep, Waking, midnight, after, 0330      S1444 
Sleep, Waking, foreboding/dread, with a feeling of    N 
Sleep, Waking, early, too        S1445 
Sleep, Waking, late, too        S1446 
 104 
 
Sleep, Yawning, afternoon       S1448 
Sleep, Yawning, eating ameliorates      S1450 
 
4.3.22 DREAMS 
*Dreams, Amorous         S1453 
Dreams, Anxious         S1454 
 
Dreams, Chaotic         N 
 
Dreams, Dead, of the        S1459 
Dreams, Dead, relatives        S1459 
 
Dreams, Exciting         S1462 
 
*Dreams, Family         S1463 
Dreams, Fantastic         S1463 
Dreams, Fights         S1463 
Dreams, Forsaken, of being       N 
Dreams, Freedom, of        N 
Dreams, Frightful         S1464 
 
Dreams, Humiliation        S1466 
Dreams, Hurry         S1466 
 
Dreams, Nauseous, of being       N  
Dreams, Nightmare        S1469 
 
Dreams, Paralysed, of being       N 
Dreams, People, laughing at her       N 
*Dreams, Pursued, being, animals, by, wild     S1471 
 105 
Dreams, Pursued, being, bear, by      N 
 
Dreams, Relatives, of        S1471 
Dreams, Relatives, of, parents       N 
 
Dreams, Strange         S1474 
 
Dreams, Threats         S1474 
Dreams, Throat, painful        N 
 
*Dreams, Unremembered        S1475 
 
 
4.3.23 SKIN 
Skin, Discolouration, red, spots       S1525 
Skin, Dry          S1526 
Skin, Eruptions, rash        S1535 
 
4.3.24 GENERALS 
Generals, Cold, becoming cold       S1577 
Generals, Cold, becoming cold, perspiration during    S1577 
Generals, Cold, heat and cold       S1577 
 
Generals, Food, cheese, aversion      S1605 
Generals, Food, chocolate, desire      S1605 
*Generals, Food, coffee, desire       S1605 
Generals, Food, rich food, aversion      S1615 
*Generals, Food, sweets, desire       S1617 
*Generals, Food, warm drinks, desire, hot     S1617 
Generals, Food, warm food, desire, hot      S1617  
 
 106 
Generals, lying on side, ameliorates      S1655 
 
Generals, Heat, flushes of        S1620 
Generals, Heat, flushes of, perspiration, with     S1621 
Generals, Heat, flushes of, extending to, upwards, hips, from the S1621  
 
Generals, Pain, joints        S1647 
Generals, rubbing ameliorates       S1675 
Generals, Swollen sensation       S1688 
 
*Generals, Weakness        S1701 
Generals, Weakness, daytime       S1702 
Generals, Weakness, morning       S1702 
Generals, Weakness, morning, waking, on     S1703 
Generals, Weakness, afternoon       S1703 
Generals, Weakness, evening       S1703 
Generals, Weakness, sleep, from loss of     S1709 
 
 
 
 108 
CHAPTER 5 - DISCUSSION 
[Note on nomenclature: following the rules for naming as laid down by 
Schroyens in his Blueprint for a New Repertory (Synthesis ed.7, 1997;25) and 
to be in harmony with the chosen abbreviation for Bitis arietans, Bit-a 
(Wright:1999), it is suggested that the abbreviation for Bitis gabonica be Bit-g 
as it is a contraction of the official and commonly used name of the snake] 
 
5.1 DISCUSSION 
The hypothesis of this Proving was that the venom of Bitis gabonica in the 
Homoeopathic potency 30Ch would produce in healthy provers clearly 
observable symptoms and signs. To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, no 
evidence exists to contradict the above stated hypothesis and it must therefore 
be concluded that it is true. 
 
The MATERIA MEDICA lists 559 symptoms as recorded by the provers. The 
areas most affected by the venom of Bit-g in Homoeopathic potency were: 
MIND with 119 symptoms, HEAD with 65, NOSE with 62, GENERALS with 34, 
STOMACH with 30, SLEEP with 26, EXTREMITIES with 23, THROAT, EYES, 
DREAMS with 21, and BACK with 20. APPENDIX E gives a graphic 
representation of this. 
 
Once these had been converted to 601 RUBRICS the picture changed slightly, 
as follows: MIND was still strongest with 132 rubrics; HEAD was next with 98, 
followed by NOSE with 47, EYES with 31, GENITALIA/SEX with 28, DREAMS 
with 26, GENERALS and EXTREMITIES with 25, THROAT with 22, EAR with 
21, BACK with 20 and SLEEP with 19 .  
 
The seeming inconsistency between the two sets of figures is a product of two 
processes: the process of translating symptoms into rubrics, where a particular 
symptom statement has to be expanded to more than one rubric because it  
 109 
actually contained more than one symptom or in order to reflect its meaning 
most accurately, and the process of eliminating duplications.  
5.2 SYMPTOM OVERVIEW 
At this point in the discussion it is necessary to deal with the proving material as 
if the symptoms were all found in a single prover, thus painting the remedy 
picture of the patient who fits the remedy perfectly or which the ideal prover 
might generate (Sherr, 1994). 
MIND  
Various themes expressed themselves in the mental and emotional sphere 
during the proving: 
 Isolation/being alone/desire to be alone 
 Panic/feeling threatened 
 Separation from self/scattered 
 Depression/sadness/crying 
 Well being 
 Irritable 
 Sensitivity 
 Mistakes/poor concentration/forgetful 
 Confidence/lack of confidence 
 Mental activity: hyper/hypo-active 
 Calm/confusion 
 Placebo 
 Bloating/expansion 
 
The most prominent symptom was the isolation, a sense of being alone, 
forsaken or a desire to be alone. Overall there is a feeling of social detachment, 
of being an ‘outsider’. We see this reflected in the peculiar symptom of feeling 
scattered, separated from themselves: “felt they were looking at my face and I 
was behind my face looking out; I wasn’t in myself; I couldn’t connect with 
people. I feel very alone”.  This and other aspects of the remedy reflect the 
‘Divided’ nature of the snake remedies. They feel panicked and as if they are 
 110 
under threat, like most snake remedies. They have a delusion that they are 
divided, that body and mind are divided, that they are separated from 
themselves in some way. This aspect of the remedy also shows the duality of 
contradictory or ‘balancing’ states – that is that the subject may feel alone but at 
times will also want to be alone and prefers his own company. Almost all well 
proven remedies will show such contradictory symptomatology.  
 
Notable in this regard is the sadness and depression that is contradicted by the 
overwhelming sense of Well being felt at other times. We begin to see a nature 
which is sad, melancholic, brooding, tearful and sensitive on the one hand, 
while on the other it is happy, joyful, positive, motivated, at one with self and the 
world. The duality is further observed in the general condition of being energetic 
or drained, hyper- or hypo-active, in a heightened state of mental activity or 
being ‘slowed up’, flat, tired. 
 
They are irritable, moody, insecure, oversensitive and confused or they are 
calm and confident, unusually so. 
 
An unusual amount of mistakes are made, letters are missed out when writing, 
dates are confused, memory is poor, concentration is lacking and the patient is 
unusually forgetful.  
 
Of minor importance in terms of their frequency but interesting due to their 
appearance in the proving of Bitis arietans are the symptoms: feeling sure they 
were on placebo, and sensation of bloating after taking the remedy. The former 
was confirmed to a greater degree than reflected in the diaries during post-
proving discussions. 
DREAMS 
The dreams produced by the proving could be grouped under 4 themes: 
 Isolation 
 Chaotic/Fragmented 
 Of Parents and Relatives, both dead and living 
 111 
 Of Conflict/Fear/Escape 
 
No dreams were shared between subjects in any detail beyond the thematic 
similarities. 
HEAD 
Headaches were very common. They tended to be left sided, mainly in forehead 
and temples and tended to refer to the eyes, notably though the neck was also 
affected. There was a strong tendency to the eyes and root of nose as well. 
They are worse for cold and cold drinks, better for warmth. They are better 
lying, especially on their left side. The pain is mainly of a pressing nature. There 
is heaviness and constriction. 
NOSE 
Again we see the left side being more affected and the sensitivity to cold. 
Discharge is mainly clear, watery or albuminous and usually worse in the 
morning. It is also more commonly postnasal.  
THROAT 
There is tension in the throat. It is worse in the morning, for cold drinks and 
swallowing in general. They have pain, mucus and dryness in the throat as well 
as the sensation of a lump in the throat. 
GENERALS 
They can become cold easily and they have flushes of heat. They desire coffee, 
chocolate, warm food and drink and sweets. They feel better for lying, 
especially on their sides. They can be weak at any time of the day. They have a 
swollen sensation and are better for rubbing and occupation and tend to be 
worse on waking. 
EYES 
Again more affected on the left, there is the sensation of, as well as actual, 
swelling and inflammation. The eyes feel heavy. They can be sore and the lids 
 112 
tend to be more affected than the eyeballs. Vision is blurred and the eyes are 
light sensitive. 
GENITALIA/SEX 
Of main interest here are the pain symptoms. Again the left is more affected 
and the pains are better for lying on the side. They seem to be worse for 
movement/walking and the pains are felt mainly in the ovaries and uterus. 
There is vaginal discomfort during coitus. A thick, bland, white Leukorrhoea may 
be seen. 
EXTREMITIES 
They most notably have a lot of muscle twitches, predominantly in the upper left 
limb. The feet are dry and their hands perspire. Rashes and boils may be seen 
on upper and lower limbs. There may be pains in the knees, especially when 
walking. 
EAR 
They have pains in their ears, mainly on the lobe and behind the ear and in the 
meatus that is not better for rubbing or scratching. The right ear is more affected 
than the left. They have a sensation of fullness and there are buzzing noises in 
the ear. 
BACK 
The cervical region and the left side are most affected by stiffness and pain. 
The symptoms are definitely worse at night and better for lying. There is 
tension, stiffness or pain. 
 
Of note elsewhere are the following symptoms: distention/bloating in the 
abdomen; diarrhoea, constipation and sudden urging; difficult respiration, 
sighing and desire to breath deeply; oppression of the chest, pain and 
constriction behind the sternum; difficulty sleeping at night with sleepiness in the 
day; thirst, burning pain and the sensation of a lump in the stomach; there is a 
metallic taste in the mouth and profuse salivation, the palate and tongue are 
sore. 
 113 
 
5.3 REPERTORIZATION FOR RELATED REMEDIES 
This was done in order to establish the closest existing remedies to Bit-g. The 
most prominent symptoms were used to provide the core of the remedy. The 
results are seen in appendix G. 
 
5.4 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 
Generally it was found that homoeopaths and homoeopathic students were 
more useful provers. The reason for this is most likely to be that they are more 
familiar with the language and the detail required by a proving. They tended to 
be more observant and more interested in exploring variables and modalities to 
the symptoms. Other than this I found the criteria for inclusion to be totally 
satisfactory and did not find that it imposed any unreasonable limitations on the 
choice of provers. 
 
I found that it was not always possible to supervise the provers as closely as I 
would have liked. I feel that closer attention to the subjects would have provided 
me with better information, particularly with regard to intensity of symptoms. It 
was only on processing the data that it became apparent that some of the 
provers actually were not as specific and detailed in their recording as imagined 
and it was not always possible to retrieve that information at a later date.   
 
Other than these considerations I felt the methodology to be efficient, the 
potency and dosage regime effective. 
 
 
 114 
CHAPTER 6 - CONCLUSIONS AND 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
 
6.1 CONCLUSIONS 
It can be concluded that the 30Ch potency of the venom of Bitis gabonica 
gabonica (Bit-g) is a remedy that should be considered in a range of conditions. 
If used accurately and precisely according to established Homoeopathic 
principles it could become a significant remedy in the clinical environment. The 
wide range of symptoms produced by the proving suggests an equally wide 
range of application for the remedy. 
 
6.2 RECOMMENDATIONS 
6.2.1 FURTHER PROVINGS 
Further provings of this remedy substance are necessary as this proving shows 
it to have some promise in the homoeopathic sphere. It should be re-proven in 
lower potency to further reveal its physical/physiological symptomatology, for 
example in the 6Ch or 12Ch potency. It would be interesting to see if any of the 
swelling/oedema and cardiac effects of the venom came through in the lower 
potencies. It would also be of great benefit, as suggested by Wright (1999) in 
respect of further provings of Bitis arietans, to look at certain blood factors 
before, during and after the proving to see if there is any correlation with the 
haemotoxic effects of the venom. 
6.2.2 COMPARATIVE STUDIES 
Comparative studies of the remedy with other snake remedies and those 
remedies which bare a close resemblance to it should be undertaken to give the 
practitioner in the field the best possible idea as to what differentiates each 
substance in the healing context and as to where the remedy sits in the 
Homoeopathic armamentarium. 
 115 
6.2.3 CLINICAL INFORMATION 
It is important that the remedy be used by practitioners in the field in order for 
the various symptoms to be clinically verified. This will also help to draw a more 
accurate and clearly differentiated (disease) picture of the patient who matches 
this remedy substance.  This clinical information needs to be gathered in order 
to verify symptoms of the proving, to clarify areas that were not well established 
by the provers and to add depth to the information at hand (this assumes that 
the remedy becomes generally available so that practitioners can actually use 
it). This may go some way to filling in the gaps with respect to modalities, 
concomitants, aetiologies and so on. These cases should be made available to 
the homoeopathic community through journals or publication on the Internet.  
 
6.2.4 DEVELOPMENT OF A SOUTHERN AFRICAN MATERIA MEDICA 
In the interests of expanding a Southern African Materia Medica there are other 
substances which need to be proven. There is a vast array of substances used 
medicinally by the indigenous healers in Southern Africa and the following list 
provides a small sample of the remedies that may be of some interest in this 
regard :  
Kigelia Africana (sausage tree) – used externally for sores, ulcers, 
syphilis and carcinomas. 
Boophane Disticha (bushman poison bulb) – for wounds and boils. Also 
an hallucinogenic. 
Leonotus Leonurus (wild dagga) – snake bite, stings, boils, eczema, 
cramps, asthma, hypertension. 
Acokanthera Oppositifolia (bushmans poison bush) – headache, 
snakebite, tapeworm, toxic arrow poisons. 
Catha Edulis (bushmans tea, khat) – stimulant, coughs, asthma, chest 
ailments. 
 
NB: This list is only a selection of flora, but there are many other animal 
substances that are of interest in respect of their medicinal properties. 
 116 
It would be my wish for this institution (Durban Institute of Technology) to 
continue to be at the forefront of the proving effort in the interests of developing 
a substantial South African Materia Medica. 
 
 
 
 
 117 
REFERENCES 
 
Bodman, F.H. 1987. Provers. The British Homoeopathic Journal, 76: 85-91. 
 
 Cook, T.M. 1989. Homoeopathic Medicine Today. New Canaan: Keats 
Publishing.218p. 
 
Coulter, H.L. 1975. Divided Legacy: A History of the Schism in Medical 
Thought, Vol.1   The Patterns Emerge: Hippocrates to Paracelsus. Washington: 
Weehawken Book Co.537p. 
 
Demarque, D. 1987. The Development of Proving Methods since Hahnemann. 
The British Homoeopathic Journal, 76:71-75. 
 
Fisher, P. 1995. Editorial: Prove it or Improve it? The British Homoeopathic 
Journal, 84: 129-130. 
 
FitzSimons, V.F.M. 1980. A Field Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa. 
London: Collins. 221p. ISBN 0-00-219327-2 
 
Fuller Royal, F. 1991. Proving Homoeopathic Medicines. The British 
Homoeopathic Journal, 80:122-124. 
 
Gaier, H.C. 1991. Thorsons Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Homoeopathy: The 
definitive reference to all aspects of homoeopathy.  London: Thorsons. 601p. 
ISBN 0-7225-1823-4 
 
German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia 1993. 5th supplement, 1991, to the 
1st edition, 1978. Stuttgart: Deutscher Apotheker Verlag. 
 
 118 
Hahnemann, S. 1992. Organon of Medicine. 6th edition. London: Gollancz. 
270p. ISBN 0-575-03880-2 
 
Jouanny, J. 1984. The Essentials of Homoeopathic Materia Medica. 
France:Editions Boiron.454p. ISBN 2-85742-010-2. 
 
Jouanny, J. 1993. The Essentials of Homoeopathic Therapeutics. France: 
Editions Boiron. 417p. ISBN 2-85742-014-5. 
 
Kent, J.T. 1990. Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy. 
Sittingbourne:Homoeopathic Book Service. 360p. ISBN 1-869975-05-7. 
 
Koppers, A. 1987. Testing Drugs. Personal experiences. The British 
Homoeopathic Journal. 76:81-84. 
 
Little, D. 1998. The Principles of Hahnemannian Homoeopathy: Chapter 3 – 
The Principles in Practice. www.simillimum.com/Thelittlelibrary 
 
Marsh, N. Gattullo, D. Pagliaro, P. and Losano, G. 1997. The Gaboon viper, 
Bitis gabonica: haemorrhagic, Metabolic, Cardiovascular and Clinical effects of 
the Venom. Life Sciences vol 61 No8:763-769 
 
Nagpaul, V.M. 1987. Provings - Planning and Protocol. The British 
Homoeopathic Journal, 76:76-80. 
 
 Raeside, J.R. 1964. A Proving of Hirudo medicinalis. The British 
Homoeopathic Journal, 53:22-30. 
 
Raeside, J.R. 1972. Fifteen years of drug proving in London. The British 
Homoeopathic Journal, 51:203-205. 
 
Riley, D.S. 1995a. Provings - Geranium robertianum. The New England Journal 
of  Homeopathy, 4:45-55. 
 119 
 
Riley, D.S. 1995b. Proving report- Veronica officinalis. The British 
Homoeopathic Journal, 84:144-148. 
 
Riley, D.S. 1996. Homoeopathic drug proving - principles and practice. HomInt 
research and development newsletter, 1:3-14. 
 
Riley, D.S. 1997. Extracting Symptoms from Homoeopathic Drug Provings. The 
British Homoeopathic Journal, 86:225-228. 
 
Roberts, H.A. 1993. The Principles and Art of Cure by Homoeopathy. New 
Delhi: B Jain Publishers. 312p.  
 
Scholten, J. 1993. Homoeopathy and Minerals. Bombay. Homoeopathic 
Medical Publishers 295p. ISBN 90-74817-01-7 
 
Schroyens, F. 1997. Synthesis: Repertorium Homeopathicum Syntheticum. 7th 
edition. London: Homoeopathic book publishers. 1718p. ISBN 0-952274434 
 
Sherr, J.Y. 1994. The Dynamics and Methodology of Homoeopathic Provings. 
West Malvern: Dynamis Books. 131p. ISBN 0-9524633-0-X 
 
Spawls, S. and Branch, B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: 
Oriental Press. 192p. ISBN 1-86812-575-0. 
 
Stephenson, J. 1960. Homoeopathic Provings in the light of the newly 
formulated 'human pharmacology'. Journal of the American Institute of 
Homeopathy, March-April: 47-49. 
 
Taylor, E. et al 1988. Dorlands Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 27th ed. 
Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co. 1888p 
 
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van Wyk B. van Oudtshoorn B. and Gericke N. 1997. Medicinal Plants of 
South Africa. Singapore: Briza. 304p. ISBN 1-875093-09-5 
 
Visser, J and Chapman, D.S. 1978. Snakes and Snake-bite. Cape Town: 
Purnell. 152p. ISBN 0-86843-011-0. 
 
Vithoulkas, G. 1986. The Science of Homoeopathy. London: Thorsons. 331p. 
ISBN 0-7225-1310-0. 
 
Walach, H. 1994. Editorial: Provings - the method and its future. The British 
Homoeopathic Journal, 83:129-131. 
 
Walach, H, Ernst-Heiber, E, Heiber, S. 1995. Effects of Belladonna 30CH and 
12CH in healthy volunteers. The British Homoeopathic Journal, 84:180-181. 
 
Walach, H. 1997. The Pillar of Homoeopathy. Homoeopathic drug provings in a 
scientific framework. The British Homoeopathic Journal, 86:219-224. 
 
Whitmont, E.C. 1991. Psyche and Substance: Essays on Homoeopathy in the 
light of Jungian Psychology. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books. 238p. ISBN 1-
55643-106-6. 
 
Wieland, F. 1997. Good homoeopathic provings. The British Homoeopathic 
Journal 86:229-234 
 
Wildi SM, Gamperli A, Beer G, Markwalder K. 2001. A Case of Severe 
envenoming by a Gaboon Viper. The Swiss Medical Weekly 2001:131:54-55. 
www.smw.ch 
 
Wright, C.D. 1999. A Homoeopathic Drug Proving of the Venom of Bitis 
arietans arietans. Mtech Thesis, Technikon Natal. 
  
APPENDIX A 
 
SUITABILITY FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROVING 
 
 
Surname:______________________ Name:__________________________ 
 
Age:________                                   Sex: ____ 
 
Address:_______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ 
 
Telephone: Home:______________ 
                    Work:______________ 
                      Cell:______________ 
 
ALL INFORMATION WILL BE TREATED AS CONFIDENTIAL 
                   
 Are you between the age of 18 and 65 years                                   Yes/No 
 
 Do you consider yourself to be in a general state of good health?   Yes/No  
 
 Are you on Hormone Replacement Therapy or have you been                  
on any Oral Contraceptives in the last 6 months?                             Yes/No 
 
 Are you presently on any medication: chemical, homoeopathic,                      
herbal or otherwise?                                                                          Yes/No 
 
 Have you had any surgery in the past 6 weeks?                               Yes/No 
 
 Are you pregnant or nursing?                                                            Yes/No 
 
 Do you suffer from hypersensitivity diseases such as asthma,  
hayfever, allergy/food hypersensitivity?                                             Yes/No  
 
 Do you consume more than: 2 measures of alcohol per day?             
                                 (1 measure=1tot/beer/½ glass wine) 
                                                    10 cigarettes per day?                          
                                                     3 cups of tea or coffee per day?         Yes/No  
 
 Do you use recreational drugs such as cannabis, LSD, MDMA 
    (ecstasy) on a regular basis?                                                              Yes/No 
 
 Are you willing to follow the proper procedures for the duration 
     of the proving and to attend a short training programme prior to  
     starting the proving?                                                                           Yes/No 
 
 
 
 
APPENDIX B 
 
INFORMED CONSENT FORM 
 
(To be completed in duplicate by prover) 
 
TITLE OF RESEARCH PROJECT: 
 
A homoeopathic drug proving  
 
NAME OF SUPERVISOR: 
 
Dr Ashley Ross 
 
NAME OF RESEARCH STUDENT: 
 
Bruce Thomson 
 
DATE:  
          _____________ 
 
 
PLEASE CIRCLE THE APPROPRIATE ANSWER 
 
1. Have you read the patient information sheet?   YES / NO 
2. Have you had an opportunity to ask questions regarding 
 this study?       YES / NO 
3. Have you received satisfactory answers to your questions? YES / NO 
4. Have you had an opportunity to discuss this study?  YES / NO 
5. Have you received enough information about this study?  YES / NO 
6. Who have you spoken to?______________________________________ 
7. Do you understand the implications of your involvement in 
 this study?       YES / NO 
8. Do you understand that you are free to withdraw from this study:   
  
  a) at any time? 
  b) without having to give a reason for withdrawing, and 
  c) without affecting your future health care.              YES / NO 
9. Do you agree to voluntarily participate in this study?  YES / NO 
 
 
 
PATIENT/SUBJECT  Name:________________________   Signature:_________________ 
    (in block letters) 
 
WITNESS Name:_________________________________  Signature:_________________ 
    (in block letters) 
   
RESEARCH STUDENT Name: Bruce Thomson                    Signature:_________________ 
    (in block letters) 
 
APPENDIX C 
 
Case History 
 
 
Name: ____________________________________          Date: __________ 
 
Address:  ________________________                      Marital Status: M/S/W/D 
                ________________________          
                ________________________                       D.O.B.  ____________ 
                ________________________          
                                                                                       Age:  ______________ 
Tel. No.    ________________________                             
                 ________________________ 
 
Occupation: ______________________                              
 
Religion: _________________________ 
 
______________________________________________________________ 
 
 
P.M.H. and treatment: (childhood illnesses, hospitalisation etc.) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Medication: 
 
 
 
 
 
Smoker: 
 
 
ROH: 
 
 
 
Childhood developments and milestones: 
 
 
 
 
Allergies: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vaccination hx: 
 
 
 
 
 
Family hx:  (TB, Ca, DM, Heart dx, CVA…) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GENERAL SYSTEMS:  Symptoms from each system will be concentrated on 
more than pathologies – these headings are just guidelines for the researcher. 
 
Head: 
 
- Scalp, hair… 
 
 
 
 
- Headache: 
 
 
 
 
- Trauma, whiplash, any aetiology: 
 
 
 
 
- Modalities: 
 
 
 
 
- Concomitants: 
 
 
 
 
 
Neurological: 
 
- Sleep: 
 
 
 
 
- Dreams: 
 
 
 
 
- Seizures: 
 
 
 
 
- Sensations: 
 
 
 
 
- Weakness/ palsy: 
 
 
 
 
Visual: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ENT: 
 
- Hearing: 
 
 
 
 
- Otitis: 
 
 
 
 
- Balance/ vertigo: 
 
 
 
- Tinnitus: 
 
 
 
 
- Allergic rhinitis: 
 
 
 
 
- Coryza: 
 
 
 
 
- Sneezing: 
 
 
 
 
- Sinusitis: 
 
 
 
 
- PND: 
 
 
 
 
- Sore throats: 
 
 
 
 
- Hoarseness: 
 
 
 
 
- Tonsils:  IN / OUT 
 
 
 
 
- Modalities: 
 
 
 
 
Pulmonary: 
 
- Chest: 
 
 
 
 
- Cough: 
 
 
 
 
- Sputum: 
 
 
 
 
- Asthma: 
 
 
 
 
- SOB: 
 
 
 
 
- Bronchitis: 
 
 
 
 
- Pneumonia: 
 
 
 
 
- Modalities: 
 
 
 
 
CVS: 
 
- HT / HypoT: 
 
 
 
 
 
- Pain / discomfort: 
 
 
 
 
- Palpitations: 
 
 
 
 
- Syncope: 
 
 
 
 
- Oedema: 
 
 
 
 
- Phlebitis, varices, telangiectasies, anaemia, bruising… 
 
 
 
 
 
GIT and Abdomen: 
 
- Appetite: 
 
 
 
 
- Tastes: 
 
 
 
 
- Cravings: 
 
 
 
 
- Aversions: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- Nausea / vomiting: 
 
 
 
 
- Indigestion / heartburn: 
 
 
 
 
- Bowel movement: 
 
 
 
 
- Constipation: 
 
 
 
 
- Hernia: 
 
 
 
 
- Ulcers: 
 
 
 
 
- Abdominal pain: 
 
 
 
 
- Bloating: 
 
 
 
 
- Flatulence: 
 
 
 
 
- Any organs particularly affected: (Liver, Pancreas, GB, Haemorrhoids…) 
 
 
 
 
- GI surgery: 
 
 
 
 
- Modalities: 
 
 
 
 
Urinary System: 
 
- Urine output / day: 
 
 
 
 
- Fluid intake: (what, how much, hot / cold…) 
 
 
 
 
- Pain: 
 
 
 
 
- Infections: 
 
 
 
 
- Nocturia: 
 
 
 
 
- Haematuria: 
 
 
 
 
- Past stones: 
 
 
 
 
- Modalities: 
 
 
Male system: 
 
- Libido: 
 
 
 
 
- Pain: 
 
 
 
 
- Impotence: 
 
 
 
 
- Emissions: 
 
 
 
 
- Prostate: 
 
 
 
 
- Swellings: 
 
 
 
 
- Lesions: 
 
 
 
 
 
Female system: 
 
- Contraception:                                                How long: 
 
 
 
 
- Libido: 
 
 
 
 
- Pain: 
 
 
 
 
- Bloating: 
 
 
 
 
- Cysts: 
 
 
 
 
- PMS: 
 
 
 
 
- Menstrual cycle: 
 
1. Interval: 
 
2. No. of days: 
 
3. Amt. of flow: 
 
4. Clots: 
 
5. Pain: 
 
 
- Menarche: 
 
 
- Menopause: 
 
 
- Discharge: 
 
 
 
 
- Coital pain: 
 
 
 
 
 
- Breast pain: 
 
 
 
 
- Check ups: 
 
 
- PAP smear: 
 
 
- Last gynae appointment: 
 
 
- Pregnancy: 
 
 
 
 
- Labour: 
 
 
 
 
- Infections: 
 
 
 
 
- STD's: 
 
 
 
 
 
Skin: 
 
- General appearance: 
 
 
 
 
- Eruptions: 
 
 
 
 
- Itching: 
 
 
 
 
- Dryness: 
 
 
 
 
- Turgor: 
 
 
 
 
- Nails: 
 
 
 
 
 
Musculoskeletal: 
 
- Muscles: 
 
 
 
 
- Joints: 
 
 
 
 
- Modalities: 
 
 
 
 
Generals: 
 
- Thirst: 
 
 
 
 
- Perspiration: 
 
 
 
 
- Weight change: 
 
 
 
 
- Energy levels:  1 -> 10 
 
 
- Fitness levels:  1 -> 10 
 
 
- Stress levels:   1 -> 10 
 
 
- Weather:  (preferences, aversions, modalities, altitude…) 
 
 
 
 
- Fever: 
 
 
 
 
- Travel: 
 
 
 
 
Mental / emotional: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- Moods: 
 
 
 
 
- Anxiety: 
 
 
 
 
- Coping skills: 
 
 
 
 
- Awareness: 
 
 
 
 
- Memory: 
 
 
 
 
- Anger: 
 
 
 
 
- Delusions: 
 
 
 
 
- Fears: 
 
 
 
 
- Tearfulness: 
 
 
 
 
- Consolation: 
 
 
 
 
- Irritation: 
 
 
 
 
- Quirks: 
 
 
 
 
- Other: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On examination: 
 
- Pulse: 
 
 
- Temperature: 
 
 
- Respiratory rate: 
 
 
- Blood pressure: 
 
 
- Hydration: 
 
 
- Lymph nodes: 
 
 
- Capillary refill: 
 
 
- JACCOL: 
 
 
- Higher function: 
 
 
- Skin:  (appearance, temp…) 
 
 
 
- Systems: 
 
1. Chest: 
 
 
 
 
2. Abdomen: 
 
 
 
 
3. Head and neck: 
 
 
 
 
4. Neuro: (reflexes) 
 
 
 
 
5. CVS:  (pulses) 
 
 
 
6. Miscellaneous: 
APPENDIX D: 
 
Instructions to provers: 
 
Dear prover, 
 
Welcome to one of the most exciting opportunities to participate in and experience 
Homoeopathy. I am sure that you will benefit from this proving in many ways. 
 
This study is a Homoeopathic proving of a certain substance, which will remain unknown to you 
for the duration of the study. The study requires you, the prover, to be in relatively good health, 
physically and mentally, and to be willing to follow the protocols of the study to the best of your 
ability. This study hopes to reveal a remedy-picture of this substance so that it can be included 
in our Materia Medica and be used to treat illness. 
 
 
Before the proving: 
 
Please ensure that you have the following: 
 the correct journal 
 read and understood these instructions 
 had a case history taken and a physical examination performed 
 signed the informed consent form 
 attended the pre-proving training course 
 
The proving supervisor (Bruce Thomson) will contact you with the date to commence the pre-
proving observation period and the date required to start taking the remedy. You will then also 
agree on a daily contact time for the supervisor to contact you.  
Should there be any problems or anything you don‟t fully understand, please do not hesitate to 
contact your supervisor. 
 
 
Beginning the Proving: 
 
Once you have been asked to begin the Proving, record all your symptoms daily in the journal 
for 1 week prior to taking the remedy. This will help you get into the habit of observing and 
recording your symptoms, as well as bringing you into contact with your „normal state‟.  
 
This is an important step and will establish the baseline for you as an individual prover.  
 
Taking the Remedy: 
 
Begin taking the remedy on the day that you and the supervisor have agreed upon. Record the 
time that you take each dose as time keeping is an important element of the proving.  
The remedy should be taken on an empty stomach and with a clean mouth (i.e. free of 
toothpaste, food, drink etc.). Dissolve the powder under the tongue.  Neither food nor drink 
should be taken for at least half an hour before and after each dose. 
The remedy should not be taken more than 3 times per day and for no longer than 1 week. 
In the event that you experience symptoms or those around you observe any proving symptoms 
do not take any further doses of the remedy. (This is very important). 
 
By proving symptoms I mean: 
 any new symptoms, i.e. ones that you have never experienced before 
 any change or intensification of any existing symptom 
 any strong return of an old symptom, i.e. a symptom which you haven‟t experienced in 
more than 1 year.    
If you have any doubt as to whether a symptom is in fact a „proving symptom‟, speak to your 
supervisor. Be on the safe side and do not take any further doses. Experience has shown 
repeatedly that the proving symptoms usually begin very subtly, often before the prover 
recognises that the remedy has begun to act. 
 
Lifestyle During the Proving: 
 
Avoid all antidoting factors such as caffeine, camphor, menthol and mints. If you normally use 
these substances, please stop taking them 2 weeks before and for the duration of the proving. 
If this is not possible and the use of these substances is not used in too much excess, please 
keep the use of these substances to a regular routine and endeavour to use them long after or 
long before taking a dose of the remedy. 
Protect your proving powders like any other potentised remedy: store them in a cool, dark place 
away from strong smelling substances, chemicals and electrical equipment. 
 
A successful proving depends on your recognising and respecting the need for moderation in 
the following areas: work, alcohol, smoking, exercise and diet. Try to remain within your usual 
framework and maintain your usual habits. 
 
Avoid taking any medication, especially antibiotics, vitamins or mineral supplements, 
herbal or homoeopathic remedies. 
 
In the event of a medical or dental emergency, of course common sense should prevail. 
Contact your homoeopath, doctor, dentist or local hospital as necessary. Please also 
contact your supervisor as soon as possible. 
 
Confidentiality: 
 
It is important for the quality and credibility of the proving that you discuss your symptoms only 
with your supervisor. Keep your symptoms to yourself and do not discuss them with fellow 
provers. 
Your privacy is something that will be protected. Only the proving supervisor will know your 
identity and all information will be treated in the strictest confidence. 
 
Contact with your supervisor: 
 
Your supervisor will contact you to inform you to begin your 1-week observation period and then 
daily from the day that you begin taking the remedy. This will later decrease to 2 or 3 times a 
week and then to once a week, as soon as you and the supervisor agree that there is no further 
need for such regular contact. This will serve to check up on your progress, ensure that you are 
recording the best quality symptoms possible and to judge when you need to cease taking the 
remedy. 
If you have any doubts, queries or problems during the proving contact your supervisor on the 
telephone number provided at any time. 
 
Recording of symptoms: 
 
When you commence the proving, note down any symptoms carefully that arise, whether they 
are old or new and at the time of the day or night which they occurred. This should be done as 
vigilantly and as frequently as possible so that the details will be fresh in your memory 
and that no information will be lost. Make a note even if nothing happens. Remember to 
note down any significant events or incidences that occur, especially if they are attributed to the 
remedy taken. 
 
Please start each new day on a new page with date noted at the top of the page. Also note 
which day of the proving it is. The day that you take your first dose is day zero. 
 
Write neatly on alternate lines, in order to facilitate the extraction process, which is the next 
stage of the proving. Try to keep the journal with you at all times and please be as precise as 
possible. Note down your symptoms in an accurate, detailed yet brief manner and in your own 
language. 
 
Information about location, sensation, modality, time and intensity is particularly important: 
 LOCATION: try to be accurate in your anatomical descriptions. Simple, clear diagrams may              
help here. Be attentive to which side of the body is affected. 
 SENSATION: describe this as carefully and as thoroughly as possible e.g. burning, shooting, 
stitching, throbbing, dull, lancinating …... 
 MODALITY: better (>) or worse (<) from weather, food, smells, dark, light, lying, standing, 
people …… Try different things out to see if they affect the symptom and record any changes. 
 TIME: note the time of onset of the symptoms and when they cease or are altered. Is it 
generally better (>) or worse (<) at a particular time of the day or night, and is this unusual for 
you? 
 INTENSITY: briefly describe the sensation and its effect on you. 
 AETIOLOGY: did anything seem to cause or set off the symptom and does it do this 
repeatedly? 
 CONCOMITANTS: do any symptoms appear together or always seem to accompany each 
other or do some symptoms seem to alternate with each other? 
 
 
REMEMBER 
 
C - concomitants 
L - location 
A - aetiology 
M - modality 
I  - intensity 
T - time 
S - sensation 
 
 
 
 
On a daily basis, you should run through the following checklist to ensure that you have 
observed and recorded all your symptoms: 
 
 MIND                                                  
 HEAD                                                 
 EYES                                                 
 EARS                                                 
 MOUTH & TONGUE                          
 BACK                                                 
 RESPIRATORY SYSTEM                  
 DIGESTIVE SYSTEM                        
 SKIN 
 
Please give full descriptions of dreams and in particular note the general feeling or impression 
that the dream left with you. 
 
Mental and emotional symptoms are very important and sometimes difficult to describe - 
please take special care noting these. 
 
Reports from friends and relatives can be particularly enlightening, please include these where 
possible. At the end of the proving, please make a general summary of the proving. Please 
note how the proving affected you in general. How has this experience affected your health? 
Would you ever do another proving? 
 
As far as possible, try to classify each symptom by making a notation in brackets next to each 
entry according to the following key: 
 
(RS) - Recent symptom i.e. a symptom that you are suffering from now, or have been in the 
last year. 
 
(NS) - New symptom  
 
(OS) - Old symptom. State when the symptom previously occurred. 
 
(AS) - Alteration in a present state or old symptom (e.g. used to be on the left side, now on the 
right) 
 
(US) - Unusual symptom for you. 
 
 
Please remember to use red ink for these notations and classify your symptoms accurately. If 
you have any doubts, discuss them with your supervisor. 
 
 
Please remember that detailed observation and concise, legible 
writing is essential. 
 
 
 
 EXTREMITIES 
 URINARY ORGANS 
 GENITALIA 
 SEX 
 TEMPERATURE 
 SLEEP 
 DREAMS 
 GENERALITIES 
 
 
“The best opportunity for exercising our sense of observation and to perfect it is by proving 
medicines ourselves” - Samuel Hahnemann 
 
„The person who is proving the medicine must be pre-eminently trustworthy and 
conscientious...and able to express and describe his sensations in accurate terms‟  
                      Organon Aph. 126 
 
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROVING. I AM SURE THAT YOU WILL FIND 
THAT THERE IS NO BETTER WAY OF LEARNING AND ADVANCING HOMOEOPATHY. 
 
(Adapted from Jeremy Sherr - The Dynamics and Methodology of Homoeopathic Provings) 
 
 APPENDIX E 
RELATIVE PROVER CONTRIBUTION
prover 1
12%
prover 3
15%
prover 4
3%
prover 5
10%
prover 10
4%
prover 12
5%
prover 15
7%
prover 17
3%
prover 18
17%
prover 19
8%
prover 20
1%
prover 9
8%
prover 13
3% prover 6
2%prover 8
2%
 
 
APPENDIX F 
Appendix G 
 
 
 
 NORMAL REPERTORIZATION 
 MINERAL FILTER 
 ANIMAL FILTER 
 ANIMAL – SNAKES – FILTER 
 PLANT FILTER